Toronto, Ontarioĺ─ý The exciting and dynamic Soweto Gospel Choir returns to Toronto for two performances only on December 17 and 18, 2008 at Massey Hall. The performances are presented by The Sony Centre for the Performing Arts.

Two-time GrammyČĂ Award-winning Soweto Gospel Choir thrilled sold-out audiences on each of their previous visits in 2005 and 2007. Their first North American Christmas tour is not to be missed ĺ─ý these return performances will include their newest holiday offerings as well as traditional favourites!

Expect earthy rhythms, rich harmonies, a cappella numbers as well as accompaniment by an exciting four-piece band and percussion section. Add energetic dancing and vibrant, colourful costumes, and the mix is awesome. The Choir performs in six of South Africaĺ─˘s 11 official languages.

The popular Choir has made its mark on the international stage performing with such luminaries as Bono, The Eurythmics, Jimmy Cliff and many others. They have also performed for Nelson Mandela. Often referred to as the ĺ─˙Voices from Heavenĺ─¨, the Choir reaches across cultural boundaries and each performance is uplifting, exhilarating and thrilling.

DETAILS

Dates: Dec. 17 & 18, 2008 at8 p.m.

Location: Massey Hall

South side of Shuter Street, between Yonge & Victoria Streets

Tickets:STILL AVAILABLE! $18-$78 plus applicable service charges

Tickets can be purchased through the Massey Hall & Roy Thomson Hall Box Office by telephone 416-872-4255, in person at 60 Simcoe St., Toronto, online at www.masseyhall.com or through Ticketmaster by phone at 416-870-8000, online atwww.ticketmaster.ca or in person at any Ticketmaster retail location.

GROUPS of 10 or more call Massey Hall Group Sales at 416-593-4822 ext. 225

On Friday, December 12 and Saturday, December 13, the boys' choirs of St. Michael's Choir School continue a six-decade Toronto tradition by performing their 69th annual Christmas concert at Massey Hall featuring sacred and secular choral favourites from Christmases past and present.

The boys of the Elementary Choir conducted by Teri Dunn will perform Canadian carols by Andrew Ager and David Elliot and two other works. The Junior Choir conducted by Caron Daley will begin their portion of the concert with John Rutter's arrangement of the German traditional carol In dulci jubilo along with Gounod's Ave Maria and Carols of French Canada arranged by Louis Applebaum. Of particular note, the Junior Choir will premiere First gifts, a piece commissioned in memory of Kathleen Mann (1919-2007). From 1939 until her retirement in 1984, Miss Mann taught every choir boy at the school as the Grade 6 teacher. First gifts was composed by alumnus Kola Owolabi with lyrics by award-winning author Darlene Madott.

The Senior Choir boys, ages 12 to 18, will perform works by Healey Willan, Peter Mathews, Heinrich Schł║tz and others. The Gentlemen of the Senior Choir, consisting of the Senior Choir's tenors and basses, will sing four selections including a traditional Polish carol entitled Wë§rłäd nocnej ciszy (In midnight's stillness), arranged by Jerzy Cichocki, Artistic Director of the Choir School and conductor of the Senior Choirs. These young men will also perform a holiday musical gem by Martin and Blane entitled Have yourself a merry little Christmas. The concert culminates with the Massed Choir (over 200 voices) inviting audiences to join in carols such as The First Nowell and Joy to the World. The choirs will be accompanied on piano and organ by Edward Moroney, Christopher Ku, and Yuri and Nelly Krechkovsky.

For boys and men who attended St. Michael's Choir School and audience members who have shared the Massey Hall concert experience, the piece Christmas Overture remains an enjoyable tradition. This year, the Massed Choir will premiere a new arrangement of the work originally written in 1940 by Choir School founder Monsignor John Edward Ronan. This version features brass accompaniment composed by Howard Cable and performed by one of Canada's leading quintets, True North Brass. Conductor and alumnus Brian Rae returns to the Massey Hall stage to launch this bright new version of Christmas Overture.

Founded in 1937 with the purpose of providing sacred music for services at St. Michael's Cathedral in downtown Toronto, St. Michael's Choir School is a centre for musical and academic excellence. It is one of only six choir schools in the world affiliated with the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music in Rome. Each student admitted to the Choir School is trained in vocal, technical, and instrumental music, and sings in one of the school's choirs. Prominent in music education in Toronto, the Choir School maintains high academic standards, as recognized most recently by the perfect score awarded its academic program by the Fraser Institute. For seventy years, graduates of the Choir School have pursued studies in science, education, medicine, law, business and, of course, music. In the last group are the Crew Cuts and Four Lads of the 1950s and present-day musical artists Michael Schade, John McDermott, Stewart Goodyear, Kevin Hearn (of The Barenaked Ladies), Robert Pomakov, Matt Dusk, Michael Colvin, Claude Morrison (of The Nylons), and Michael Burgess.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Bugs Bunny on Broadway is coming

Whatĺ─˘s Up, Doc?!

Bugs Bunny is coming to town next month!

Vancouver BC ĺ─ý The Wascally Wabbit is back!The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and Global ComedyFest are proud to present Bugs Bunny on Broadway ĺ─ý a unique and extraordinary concert experience that celebrates the worldĺ─˘s favourite classic Looney Tunes cartoons and their real classical scores. A great holiday gift, Bugs Bunny on Broadway is a fun family experience and a hilarious trip down nostalgia lane!

The large video screen show cartoon jewels like Whatĺ─˘s Opera, Doc?,The Rabbit of Seville, Long Haired Hare and a Corny Concerto while the Orchestra plays the classical soundtracks on stage. This roller coaster ride of a concert has sold-out the worldĺ─˘s greatest concert halls from The Hollywood Bowl to the Sydney Opera House (and in the past, the Orpheum and Queen Elizabeth Theatre!) and created an enthusiastically-devoted international audience of animation fans and classical music lovers alike.

Bugs conductor and co-creator George Daugherty takes the podium with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra for this extra-special concert event. During the show, Daugherty explains how the genius of Chuck Jones and Warner Bros. took real classical and operatic scores, such as Rossiniĺ─˘sBarber of Seville and Wagnerĺ─˘sRing Cycle, and set not only Bugs Bunny cartoons to this great classical music, but many others as well. Itĺ─˘s an eye-opening experience for audiences to learn that as they were growing up watching the hilarious antics of Bugs and friends, they were also listening to classical music!

Bugs Bunny on Broadway is a uniquely spirited, fun, and sophisticated combination of classic animation and spectacular symphonic music. George Daugherty and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra will perform three concerts from December 28th to December 29that the Orpheum Theatre.

Tickets for Bugs Bunny on Broadway are going fast ĺ─ý the matinee performance is nearly sold out, but good seats remain for the two evening performances. Tickets are available exclusively through the VSO website at www.vancouversymphony.ca, and VSO Customer Service at 604.876.3434.

Conductor George Daugherty is one of the classical music world's most diverse artists. In addition to his 30-year conducting career which has included appearances with the world's leading orchestras, ballet companies, opera houses, and concert artists, Daugherty is also an Emmy Award winning / five-time Emmy nominated creator whose professional profile includes major credits as a director, writer, and producer for television, film, innovative and unique concerts, and the live theater.

Daugherty's 2006-07-08 conducting schedule includes return performance with The Cleveland Orchestra (at both Severance Hall and The Blossom Festival), The Los Angeles Philharmonic at The Hollywood Bowl, The Philadelphia Orchestra, The San Francisco Symphony, The National Symphony at Wolf Trap and The Fort Worth Philharmonic.

Daugherty debuted with The Cleveland Orchestra in 2004 and has since conducted the orchestra in numerous concerts at The Blossom Festival, and made his Severance Hall debut with the orchestra in 2007. His Cleveland Orchestra repertoire has included Tchaikovsky Suite No. 3, numerous major works by Wagner, compositions by Rossini, Mozart, and Strauss, as well as his signature concert "Bugs Bunny On Broadway." He has also conducted The Blossom Festival Orchestra, where he returns again in 2008. He created the film-and-orchestra concert "Rodgers & Hammerstein On Stage and Screen" for The Blossom Festival in 2007 (which broke attendance records in its two performances) and in 2008, he premieres another new concert, Blossom Night At The Movies Celebrating The 85th Anniversary of Warner Bros.

He is Music Director and Conductor of London's Sinfonia Britannia, which made its world premiere at Easter 2005 during a one week engagement at the newly-opened Wales Millennium Centre. The orchestra made its U.S. tour debut in San Francisco in February 2006, and made its London West End debut in September 2006.

Mr. Daugherty has also been a frequent conductor of London's Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra with whom he conducted "A Royal Christmas," a 15 city U.S. and Canadian concert tour with the orchestra and guest artists Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer, Charlotte Church, The Westminster Choir and Bell Ringers, and ballet dancers from The Royal Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet, Kyev Ballet, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, and other major international companies. The tour played sold-out performances in such major North American cities as Boston, Toronto, Pittsburgh, Ottawa, and the New York City area.

Daugherty made his debut with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra in London's Royal Festival Hall in 1999, and has also since conducted the orchestra on tour throughout The United Kingdom. His performances with the RPCO have received rave reviews from such diverse international publications as The Times of London, The Boston Globe, and The Ottawa Citizen.

As a frequent guest conductor of The Los Angeles Philharmonic, Daugherty has conducted eleven engagements with the Philharmonic at the legendary Hollywood Bowl, and returns for a 12th in 2008. He also made his Dorothy Chandler Pavilion debut with the orchestra in December, 1994. He has also conducted four performances with The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra.

Daugherty, a San Francisco resident, has also been a popular guest conductor with The San Francisco Symphony since his debut with the orchestra in 1998, performing with the SFS frequently in Davies Symphony Hall, as well as numerous performances around the Bay Area. He also returns to the SFS in summer 2008.

In 2000, Daugherty also made a highly successful conducting debut with The Philadelphia Orchestra, and returned again to conduct the orchestra in 2001, 2002, 2004, and 2006, conducting such repertoire as Mendelssohn's "Midsummer Night's Dream" with Shakespeare's text, as well as major works by Wagner, Rossini, Elgar, Prokofiev, Tchaikovsky, Mozart, Mascagni, Humperdinck, and other composers.

He has been a frequent quest conductor at The Sydney Opera House since 1996, and in 2002 and 2005, he returned to guest conduct The Sydney Symphony for one week engagements at the Sydney Opera House. He also made his debut with The Melbourne Symphony in Melbourne's Victoria Arts Centre in 2002, and returned for a one week engagement in 2005, followed by debuts with The Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and The Auckland Philharmonic. His international conducting appearances have ranged from Moscow's Kremlin Palace to Shanghai's Grand Theatre.

Daugherty has appeared with numerous other major American and international symphony orchestras, ballet companies, and opera houses, including American Ballet Theatre, The Sydney Opera House Orchestra, The Munich State Opera Orchestra, The Munich State Opera Ballet, The Pittsburgh Symphony, The Atlanta Symphony, The Cincinnati Symphony, The Houston Symphony, The Fort Worth Symphony, The Vancouver Symphony, The Buffalo Philharmonic, The Louisville Orchestra, The Indianapolis Symphony, The Phoenix Symphony, The Moscow Symphony, Seiji Ozawa's New Japan Philharmonic, The Shanghai Radio Orchestra, The Seoul Philharmonic, The Kremlin Palace Orchestra of The Russian Federation, The Kiev Ballet, The Nashville Symphony, The Grant Park Symphony Orchestra, The Columbus Symphony, The RCA Symphony Orchestra, The Saddlers Wells Royal Ballet, Mexico City's Bellas Artes Opera House, The Montreal Symphony, The Winnipeg Symphony, The Rochester Philharmonic, The New Orleans Symphony, The Venezuela Symphony, Mexico's Xalapa Symphony, The Oklahoma City Philharmonic, The National Arts Centre Orchestra, and major Italian opera houses in Rome, Florence, Turin, and Regio Emilia.

Mr. Daugherty made the professional guest conducting debut of his entire career in November 1979, at the age of 22, with The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra in The Eastman Theatre.

In addition to his appearances with American Ballet Theatre and other major ballet companies, he has also served as Music Director of The Louisville Ballet, The Chicago City Ballet, and Ballet Chicago, where he conducted the world premiere of Daniel Duell's "Glazunov Violin Concerto" ballet, performed by violinist Cho Liang Lin. Daugherty has also conducted for some of the ballet world's greatest stars, including Mikhail Baryshnikov, Gelsey Kirkland, Suzanne Farrell, Natalia Makarova, and virtually every top ballet dancer of the past two decades.

As a director, writer, and producer of music-based television programs, Daugherty has created several major productions for the ABC Television Network project, including a primetime animation-and-live action production of Sergei Prokofiev's "Peter and The Wolf", which he created, co-wrote, and directed (and for which he conducted the score with The Utah Symphony.) "Peter and The Wolf" starred Lloyd Bridges, Kirstie Alley, and Sleepless in Seattle's Ross Malinger (as Peter), along with new characters created by legendary Warner Bros. animation director Chuck Jones. The production -- and Daugherty -- earned a coveted Emmy Award when "Peter and The Wolf" was named Outstanding Primetime Children's Television Program. He also received a second Emmy nomination for Outstanding Music Direction for the production, as well as a Writers Guild of America / WGA Award nomination.

He collaborated with The Joy Luck Club author Amy Tan on a television adaptation of her celebrated children's book The Chinese Siamese Cat. The Emmy Award-winning series debuted on PBS in the fall of 2001 as a daily-animated children's television series, propelled by PBS' unprecedented advance order for 80 segments. Daugherty executive produced, and wrote a large number of the animated tales.

Daugherty also received an Emmy nomination for Rhythm & Jam, his ABC television network of specials which taught the basics of music to a teenage audience. He has now received five Emmy nominations to date, and his productions have won three additional Emmys and been nominated for 11 others.

Daugherty also directed the 1991 Warner Bros. documentary The Magical World of Chuck Jones, celebrating the career of the legendary animation director on his 80th birthday, and featuring interviews from a stellar group of artists whose work had been influenced by Jones' legendary comedic creations, including Whoopi Goldberg, Steven Spielberg, Ron Howard, George Lucas, Matt Groening, Danny Elfman, Joe Dante, and many others.

In 1990, Daugherty created, directed, and conducted the hit Broadway musical "Bugs Bunny On Broadway", a live-orchestra-and-film stage production which sold-out its extended run at New York's Gershwin Theatre on Broadway, and has since played to critical acclaim and sold-out houses in thirteen different Los Angeles engagements, as well as at Washington D.C.'s Wolf Trap, Philadelphia Orchestra's Mann Music Center, Detroit's Meadowbrook, Cleveland Orchestra's Blossom Festival, The New York Philharmonic's Saratoga Center for The Performing Arts, Pittsburgh Symphony's Heinz Hall, and in Vancouver, Denver, Detroit, Chicago, San Diego, Orange County, and elsewhere. "Bugs Bunny On Broadway" embarked on a worldwide concert tour in 1996 with an international (and sold-out) one week engagement at the famed Sydney Opera House in Australia, and subsequent international performances in London, Wales, Central and South America, Russia, Japan, China, and Korea.

Daugherty recently received the biannual Indiana Governor's Arts Award from the state of his birth, in recognition for his artistic contributions not only in Indiana, but also throughout the rest of the country. In receiving the award, Daugherty joined an exclusive list of previous Hoosier honorees, including composers Cole Porter and Hoagy Carmichael, conductors Raymond Lepard and John Nelson, cellist Janos Starker, violinists Joshua Bell and Josef Gingold, architect Michael Graves, designer Bill Blass, and novelist Kurt Vonnegut Jr. In 2005, he was also named a Sagamore of The Wabash by the late Indiana Governor Frank O'Bannon, the highest award which can be bestowed upon a performing artist from the state governor.

In 2005, Daugherty was also named a Library Laureate of The San Francisco Public Library for his contributions to children's books, reading, and literature, joining a distinguished list of authors who have been awarded the title.

AN INDIGO CHRISTMAS is an evening of Christmas music, gospel style! Toronto's renowned NATHANIEL DETT CHORALE, recently returned from a successful US tour, will be joined by acclaimed pianist/composer Joseph Joubert, a live band, and members of the York University Gospel Choir. Included in the program will be Great Joy-a collection of traditional Christmas music co-arranged by Joubert.

Joseph Joubert is a world-renowned composer, arranger, and musician. His many credits include pianist for the current Broadway production of Billy Elliot, pianist/associate conductor for Oprah Winfrey's The Color Purple on Broadway, and orchestrator, musical director, and pianist for the world premiere of 3 Mo' Divas. He has been nominated for Grammy Awards and Drama Desk Awards, collaborated with renowned concert artists such as Kathleen Battle and Florence Quivar, and worked as producer/arranger/keyboardist for popular artists such as Whitney Houston, Patti Labelle, Diana Ross, Judy Collins, Jennifer Holliday, and Ashford and Simpson.

Founded in 1998, the NATHANIEL DETT CHORALE is Canada's first professional choral group dedicated to Afrocentric music of all styles. BRAINERD BLYDEN-TAYLOR, founder and artistic director, is an internationally respected conductor, clinician, and adjudicator.

AN INDIGO CHRISTMAS will be performed in the Nathaniel Dett Chorale's new home at the Glenn Gould Studio, 50 Front St. West in Toronto.

In their annual winter concert, Laudate Singers and artistic director Lars Kaario will explore the beauty and mystery of the season through different settings of O Magnum Mysterium, an ancient liturgical text traditionally sung during Matins on Christmas Day. By shimmering candlelight, the NorthShoreĺ─˘s premier chamber choir will perform interpretations of this medieval chant by composers from all over the world, spanning several centuries. Audiences will hear O Magnum Mysterium as put to music by the Spaniard Tomas Luis de Victoria (c.1548-1611), the Venetian Giovanni Gabrieli (1557-1612), the Englishman William Byrd (1539-1623), the Frenchman Francis Poulenc (1899-1963) and the American Morten Lauridsen (b.1943), as well as the world premiere of a brand new setting by award-winning Vancouver composer Bruce Sled, offering a contemporary Canadian perspective on the text.

The evening will also include Today the Virgin and a setting of William Blakeĺ─˘s The Lamb by John Tavener (b. 1944), Hodie Christus natus est by Miklłäs Csemiczky (b.1954), motets by Josef Gabriel Rheinberger (1839-1901), and such beloved seasonal classics such as Anton Brucknerĺ─˘s Ave Maria, the classic Es ist ein Ros entsprungen by Praetorius, Joseph lieber, Joseph mein by Johann Walther and Puer natus in Bethlehem by Samuel Scheidt. With Mysterium, Laudate Singers once again create a warm, luminous oasis amid the grey days of winter, spiriting audiences away on a transcendent musical journey.

Also, donĺ─˘t miss Laudate Singersĺ─˘ annual Free Family Christmas Concert at St. Andrewĺ─˘s UnitedChurch on December 14th at 3 pm ĺ─ý a rollicking community event that has also become a NorthShore holiday tradition.

COC Premiers Rusalka

coc premieres Dvoë˘ł░kĺ─˘s HEARTBREAKING fairy tale, RUSALKA

Toronto, Ontario ĺ─ý The Canadian Opera Companyĺ─˘s winter season continues with the COC premiere of Antonłén Dvoë˘ł░kĺ─˘s tragic love story, Rusalka. Helikon Operaĺ─˘s artistic director,Dmitri Bertman, who staged last seasonĺ─˘s critically-acclaimed From the House of the Dead, directs this luminous production from Theater Erfurt in Germany. Theopera features rising starAmerican soprano Julie Makerov in the title roleandrenowned Canadian tenor Michael Schade as the Prince. EminentAmerican conductor John Keenan, who has conducted major works with the Metropolitan Opera, Kirov Operaand the Santa Fe Opera, makes his COC debut leading the COC Orchestra and Chorus. Rusalka was programmed for this season by the late Richard Bradshaw to commemorate the COCĺ─˘s co-founder Nicholas Goldschmidtĺ─˘s 100th birthday. Rusalka runs January 31, February5, 8, 11, 14, 17, 20, and 23, 2009 and is sung in Czech with English SURTITLESĺĐó.

Julie Makerov, who appeared in this seasonĺ─˘s Don Giovanni, and in the COCĺ─˘s 2006 production of the Ring Cycle, returns to the COC stage to sing the role of the water nymph Rusalka who falls in love with a mortal prince. Michael Schade, singing the part of the Prince, makes his first appearance with the COC in five years and his Four Seasons Centre stage debut. Moldavian powerhouse Irina Mishura, last seen as Azucena in Il Trovatore, sings JeëŠibaba, the malevolent witch who, in exchange for Rusalkaĺ─˘s immortality and voice, gives Rusalka a chance to win the heart of the Prince. Acclaimed baritone Richard Paul Fink, Alberich in the COCĺ─˘s Ring Cycle, is Rusalkaĺ─˘s devoted old friend, the Water Gnome. Former Ensemble Studio soprano Joni Henson, who sang Elisabeth de Valois in two performances of Don CarlosandGutrune in the COCĺ─˘s Ring Cycle, is the Foreign Princess vying for the Princeĺ─˘s heart. Set designer Hartmut SchłĆrghofer and costume designer CorinnaCrome, recreate Rusalkaĺ─˘s mystical worlds, both in water and on land. Thomas C. Hase lights this production.

Dvoë˘ł░kĺ─˘s Rusalka is derived from Hans Christian Andersenĺ─˘s popular fairy tale The Little Mermaid, Friedrich de la Motte Fouqułęĺ─˘s story Undine and Karel Jaromłér Erbenĺ─˘s A Garland of National Tales. The operapremiered at the National Theatre in Prague in 1901. Although Dvoë˘ł░k was known more for his symphonic and chamber works than his operas, Rusalkaachieved great success. Blending rich melodic phrasing with harmonic depth, the opera became ĺ─ý along with Bedë˘ich Smetanaĺ─˘s The Bartered Brideĺ─ý one of the most popular Czech operas.Rusalka alsofeatures the beautiful aria ĺ─˙Song to the Moon,ĺ─¨ which brings to aching life this timeless story.

Single tickets for Rusalka are available Monday, December 1, 2008 online at www.coc.ca, or by calling 416-363-8231, or in person at the Four Seasons Centre Box Office (145 Queen St. W., Toronto). Ticket prices for all performances range from $60 to $290. Special young peopleĺ─˘s tickets for all performances throughout the season are priced from $30 to $98. These ticket prices apply to those who are 15 years of age or under, accompanied by and sitting next to an adult.

Starting Saturday,January 17, 2009 at 10 a.m., $20 tickets are available for patrons between the ages of 16 and 29 through the Opera for a New Age program presented by TD Bank Financial Group

and may be purchased online at www.coc.ca or in person at the Four Seasons Centre Box Office (145 Queen St. W., Toronto). Student group tickets are $20 per student and may be purchased by calling 416-306-2356. Remaining Opera for a New Age tickets will be released as $20 rush seats at 11 a.m. the morning of the performance, subject to availability.

Presenting Sponsor of SURTITLESłž: Sun Life Financial

Official Automotive Sponsor of the COC at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts:

JaguarLand Rover Canada

Official Media Sponsors: CTV and The Globe and Mail

The COC Ensemble Studio is Canadaĺ─˘s premier training program for young opera professionals and provides advanced instruction, hands-on experience, and career development opportunities. The Ensemble Studio is supported by the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage, RBC Financial Group, and other generous donors.

COC ANCILLARY EVENTS AND INFORMATION:

BMO Financial Group Pre-Performance Opera Chats

The COC offers free 20-minute introductions to the opera and its theme in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 45 minutes prior to every performance.

Appetite for Opera: Rusalka

Appetite for Opera returns to Hilton Torontoĺ─˘s Tundra Restaurant on Thursday, January 22, 2009 for Appetite for Opera: Rusalka, an evening that combines the cultural and culinary arts in an innovative gourmet event designed to delight and intrigue opera novices and seasoned fans. The evening begins with a cocktail reception at 6:15 p.m. followed by a multi-course dinner at 7 p.m. and costs $89 per person. Each course is accompanied by a specially chosen wine, while COC Volunteer Speakers Bureau representative Robert Morassutti and the Hilton chef Kreg Graham provide fascinating links and insights between food, wine, and opera. Ticket and dinner packages can be purchased online at www.coc.ca.

Canadian Opera Company Podcast Series

The Canadian Opera Company and Universal Music present a FREE podcast series that explores the depths of music in opera. Podcasts are available on www.coc.ca or through Universal Music at www.getmusic.ca/classical. Rusalka-themed podcasts will be online starting in December 2008. These are entertaining programs designed to give listeners a chance to learn about opera, COC productions, and hear interviews from the artists and creative team. Throughout the year, listeners can tune in to hear music from the COCĺ─˘s 2008/09 season, roundtable discussions with special artists, as well as preview operas in the COCĺ─˘s 2009/10 season. Each podcast is created and hosted by COC personnel.

About the Canadian Opera Company

Based in Toronto, the Canadian Opera Company is the largest producer of opera in Canada and one of the largest in North America, and has an international reputation for artistic excellence and creative innovation. The COC currently enjoys a remarkable 99% attendance rate for its mainstage season. The companyĺ─˘s new home, the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, was designed by Diamond and Schmitt Architects Inc. and is Canadaĺ─˘s first purpose-built opera house. The contemporary expression of a traditional five-tiered, European horseshoe-shaped auditorium was specifically designed for opera with the highest level of acoustics and provides unparalleled intimacy between the audience and the stage. Acclaimed as one of the best opera houses in the world, the Four Seasons Centre is also the performance venue for The National Ballet of Canada.

Canadian Opera Company Website

The Canadian Opera Company website, at www.coc.ca, contains information on all productions including synopses, historical background, and production photographs.

Beethoven's Triumphant Opera, Fidelio, Kicks off the COC's Winter Season

Toronto, Ontario ĺ─ýThe Canadian Opera Companyĺ─˘s winter season opens with a new production of Ludwig van Beethovenĺ─˘s only opera, Fidelio. Leading the cast in this opera of triumph and courage in the face of oppression are Adrianne Pieczonka as Leonore and American tenor Jon Villars as her great love, Florestan. German director Andreas Baesler restages this production, while conductor Gregor Bł║hl leads the COC Orchestra and Chorus. Both make their COC debuts with this captivating production. Fidelio is a co-production with Opłęra national du Rhin (ONR) and Staatstheater Nł║rnberg. Fidelio runs January 24 at 7:30 p.m., 27 at 7:30 p.m., 30 at 7:30 p.m., February 4 at 7:30 p.m., 7 at 4:30 p.m., 12 at 7:30 p.m., 15 at 2 p.m., 18 at 7:30 p.m., 21 at 7:30 p.m., and 24 at 7:30 p.m., 2009 and is sung in German with English SURTITLESĺĐó.

Canadian soprano Adrianne Pieczonka, no stranger to the worldĺ─˘s great opera houses, makes her role debut as Leonore, a young wife who disguises herself as a man named Fidelio so she may work at the prison where her husband is unjustly incarcerated and save him from certain execution. Ms Pieczonka returns to the COC after her portrayal of Elisabeth de Valois in last seasonĺ─˘s Don Carlos. American Jon Villars,one of the worldĺ─˘s most renowned tenors, sings Florestan, Leonoreĺ─˘s husband. Mr. Villars returns to the COC stage after a 12-year absence, having last sung with the company as Calaf in Turandot in 1997. Also included in this extraordinary cast is bass-baritone and former Ensemble Studio member Gidon Saks, who sang the title role in the COCĺ─˘s Boris Godunovin 2002. Mr. Saks sings the villainous Don Pizarro who has imprisoned Florestan. Mats Almgren, Hagen in the COCĺ─˘s Ring Cycle, is the jailer, Rocco, and recent Ensemble graduate, Virginia Hatfield, who sang Zerlina in this seasonĺ─˘s Don Giovanni, is Marzelline, Roccoĺ─˘s daughter. Current Ensemble tenor Adam Luther sings Jaquino. The original creative team from Germany, set designer Andreas Wilkens, costume designer Gabriele Heimann, and lighting designer Max Keller make their company debuts.

Beethovenĺ─˘s original three-act version of Fidelio, then known as Leonore, premiered in Vienna in 1805. It was not an immediate success due partially to Napoleonĺ─˘s occupation of Vienna. A revised two-act version premiered in 1806, however, it was only after Beethoven altered it again in 1814 that the renamed final version, seen on international opera stages today, was completed.

Single tickets for Fidelio are available December 1, 2008 online at www.coc.ca, by calling 416-363-8231, or in person at the Four Seasons Centre Box Office (145 Queen St. W., Toronto). Ticket prices for all performances range from $60 to $290. Special young peopleĺ─˘s tickets for all performances throughout the season are priced from $30 to $98. These ticket prices apply to those who are 15 years of age or under, accompanied by and sitting next to an adult.

Starting Saturday, January 17, 2009 at 10 a.m., $20 tickets are available for patrons between the ages of 16 and 29 through the Opera for a New Age program presented by TD Bank Financial Group and may be purchased online at www.coc.ca or in person at the Four Seasons Centre Box Office (145 Queen St. W., Toronto). Student group tickets are $20 per student and may be purchased by calling 416-306-2356. Remaining Opera for a New Age tickets will be released as $20 rush seats at 11 a.m. the morning of the performance, subject to availability.

Production Sponsor of Fidelio: National Bank Financial Group

Presenting Sponsor of SURTITLESłž: Sun Life Financial

Official Automotive Sponsor of the COC at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts: JaguarLand Rover Canada

Official Media Sponsors: CTV and The Globe and Mail

The COC Ensemble Studio is Canadaĺ─˘s premier training program for young opera professionals and provides advanced instruction, hands-on experience, and career development opportunities. The Ensemble Studio is supported by the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage, RBC Financial Group, and other generous donors.

COC ANCILLARY EVENTS AND INFORMATION:

BMO Financial Group Pre-Performance Opera Chats

The COC offers free 20-minute introductions to the opera and its theme in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 45 minutes prior to every performance.

Opera 101: Fidelio

The Canadian Opera Companyĺ─˘s popular FREE series, Opera 101, takes an enthusiastic look at the COCĺ─˘s production of Beethovenĺ─˘sFidelio on Tuesday,January 13, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. Held at the culturally eclectic Drake Hotel (1150 Queen St. W.), the event is designed to demystify opera by illuminating and illustrating different aspects of the art form. The session, including a question-and-answer period, features special guests, sopranos Adrianne Pieczonka and Virginia Hatfield, as well as host Brent Bambury from CBC Radioĺ─˘s GO!. Opera 101 is a friendly, interactive, and informal event where opera neophytes can enjoy a drink and snacks and get the scoop on what opera is all about. New this season, audience members are invited to stick around following the discussion to enjoy FREE, live entertainment provided by the COC.

The Opera Exchange

The Canadian Opera Company, in collaboration with the Jackman Humanities Institute, the Munk Centre for International Studies, and the Faculty of Music at the University of Toronto, presents the second instalment of the Opera Exchange series: Love and Liberation: Beethovenĺ─˘s Fidelioheld on Saturday, January 31, 2009 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Topics include: the revolutionary and philosophical roots of the opera and its relevance today; the music and politics, and themes of triumph of light over darkness; and, the themes of love and tenderness in an otherwise bleak story highlighted by musical excerpts performed by members of the COC Ensemble Studio. The Opera Exchange series: Love and Liberation: Beethovenĺ─˘s Fideliotakes place at Walter Hall, EdwardJohnsonBuilding, The Faculty of Music, 80 Queenĺ─˘s Park (at Museum subway station). Tickets are available by calling 416-363-8231, online at www.coc.ca, or in person at the Four Seasons Centre Box Office (145 Queen St. W., Toronto). Tickets are $25, or $10 for students (with ID).

Canadian Opera Company Podcast Series

The Canadian Opera Company and Universal Music present a FREE podcast series that explores the depths of music in opera. Podcasts are available on www.coc.ca or through Universal Music at www.getmusic.ca/classical. Fidelio-themed podcasts will be online starting in December 2008. These are entertaining programs designed to give listeners a chance to learn about opera, COC productions, and hear interviews from the artists and creative team. Throughout the year, listeners can tune in to hear music from the COCĺ─˘s 2008/09 season, roundtable discussions with special artists, as well as preview operas in the COCĺ─˘s 2009/10 season. Each podcast is created and hosted by COC personnel.

About the Canadian Opera Company

Based in Toronto, the Canadian Opera Company is the largest producer of opera in Canada and one of the largest in North America, and has an international reputation for artistic excellence and creative innovation. The COC currently enjoys a remarkable 99% attendance rate for its mainstage season. The companyĺ─˘s new home, the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, was designed by Diamond and Schmitt Architects Inc. and is Canadaĺ─˘s first purpose-built opera house. The contemporary expression of a traditional five-tiered, European horseshoe-shaped auditorium was specifically designed for opera with the highest level of acoustics and provides unparalleled intimacy between the audience and the stage. Acclaimed as one of the best opera houses in the world, the

Four Seasons Centre is also the performance venue for The National Ballet of Canada.

Canadian Opera Company Website

The Canadian Opera Company website, at www.coc.ca, contains information on all productions including synopses, historical background, and production photographs.

OSM / Standard Life Competition

Launch of the 69th edition of the OSM Standard Life Competition

A record number of entries, and candidates from all across Canada

Standard Life renews its commitment for 5 years

Montreal, Tuesday, November 25, 2008 ĺ─ý The launch of the 69th edition of the OSM Standard Life Competition took place today. The event is being held fromNovember 26 to 29 at Tanna Schulich Hall in the Schulich School of Music at McGill University. This Canada-wide competition is the only one to offer more than $100,000 in prizes and grants and the chance to perform with the OSM. It is dedicated this year to woodwinds,brass and voice. For this 69th edition, a record number of 121 candidates from all regions of Canada entered the Competition.

After blind auditions, 24 semi-finalists between the ages of 19 and 30 were selected. The president of the Competition,Mr. Jean łÔlie, revealed the names of the chosen candidates: ĺ─˙Over the next few days these 24 promising young musicians will be experiencing great emotions. As in every competition, there will not be only winners. But what matters is the richness of the moments the candidates enjoy in our company. In a healthy spirit of competitiveness and self-transcendence, these young artists will be giving their very best and will benefit from the recommendations of a national and international jury of the highest calibre. We are especially proud, this year, to be welcoming a record number of candidates, who hail from all over Canada.ĺ─¨

The jury, of great prestige, is under the chairmanship of Welz Kauffman, president and CEO of Ravinia Festival outside Chicago. It brings together performers, veteran teachers and players on the musical scene like Maestro Kent Nagano, Renata Scotto, Franł▀oise Pollet and Jean-Pierre Brossmann.

Standard Life, title sponsor for the next 5 years

The grants awarded to first-prize winners in each of the categories are offered by Standard Life, sponsor of the event. At the launch of the 69th edition of the OSM Standard Life Competition, the Standard Life Assurance Company of Canada announced the renewal of its sponsorship of the acclaimed Canadian musical competition. Standard Life has supported this event since 1992 and will continue to serve as the title sponsor for at least five more years.

ĺ─˙Standard Lifeĺ─˘s community investments are highly focused on expanding the potential of young Canadians, and Iĺ─˘m convinced that our commitment to the Competition will continue to respond to our objectives in the years ahead,ĺ─¨ stated Joseph Iannicelli, president and chief executive officer of Standard Life. ĺ─˙It is gratifying for us at Standard Life to have been able to help young Canadian musicians succeed by opening up possibilities for them that they might not otherwise have even imagined.ĺ─¨

The chief executive officer of the OSM, Madeleine Careau, stressed the significance of the renewal of this partnership with Standard Life: ĺ─˙The commitment for the next five years of a company as important as Standard Life is proof that the Competition is on peopleĺ─˘s minds all over Canada and that it has become an essential step for all young musicians who aspire to a performing career. The names of winners down through the years are proof of this. Moreover, over the years the Competition has attracted judges of great reputation and loyal partners. I wish to thank those invaluable collaborators most sincerely for their generosity and their constant support, especially Standard Life, our title sponsor since 1992; our principal partner, Espace musique; our major partner, the Schulich School of Music at McGill University; as well as Yamaha Canada.ĺ─¨

November 30: free chamber-music concert

The semi-finals, the finals and the master classes are open to the public and free of charge. They take place from November 26 to 29 at Tanna Schulich Hall in the Schulich School of Music at McGill University. Moreover, in light of the great success enjoyed last year, the OSM Standard Life Competition will once more be presenting a chamber-music concert, on Sunday, November 30 at 7 p.m. in Redpath Hall at McGill University. This free concert closes the Competition and is a wonderful opportunity to hear the winner of the 2008 edition OSM Standard Life Grand Prize winner. Other musicians featured are soprano Aline Kutan,trombonist Alain Trudel, trumpeter Jens Lindemann, clarinettist James Campbell and violinist Andrew Wan, winner of the 68th edition of the Competition and recently appointed concertmaster at the OSM. The detailed program can be found in an appendix.

Espace musique: principal partner

Espace musique, the music radio service of Radio-Canada, is joining forces with the OSM for the second year in a row in the capacity of principal partner of the Competition. Espace Musique will be offering the winner of the OSM Standard Life Grand Prize the chance to record a demo CD or DVD in one of its studios. In addition, the music service will broadcast this recording and promote the winner over Radio-Canada.Also, the concert on January 11 featuring the winner of this 69th edition will be recorded by Espace musique.

Over $100,000 in prizes

The total value of the prizes awarded to the winners is $100,000. In addition to the one-of-a-kind opportunity of performing in a concert with the OSM under the direction of English conductor Mark Wigglesworth on January 11, 2009, the grand-prize winner will also have the privilege of appearing in 2009-2010 with the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra directed by Marc David, of presenting a recital at the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre in Yellowknife in 2009-2010, as well as a recital at the Orford Arts Centre in 2009.

Background

Since its creation in 1940, the OSM Standard Life Competition ĺ─ý organized jointly by the OSM Volunteer Committee and the OSM ĺ─ý has launched the careers of nearly 300 prize-winners on the national and international scene: Andrłę Laplante, Angela Cheng, Louis Lortie, Angł«le Dubeau, Lyne Fortin, Jean-Franł▀ois Rivest, James Ehnes, and more recently Andrew Wan, to give some examples. Intimately connected with the history of the Orchestra, and attracting prestige partners and judges of great reputation, the Competition continues to carry out the educational mission fostered by Wilfrid Pelletier, conductor and the first music director of the OSM.

The OSM Standard Life Competition is open to all the instruments of the orchestra and is intended for all young Canadian performers. It is one of the few competitions to offer contestants three prize categories: cash grants totalling more than $55,000, training grants enabling artists to learn in greater depth; the chance to be offered professional engagements, and finally the enormous privilege of performing before an audience with the Orchestre symphonique de Montrłęal and being broadcast on the radio by Radio-Canada.

Attending the launch of the 69th edition today were Maestro Kent Nagano; the president of the OSM Standard Life Competition, Mr. Jean łÔlie; the chief executive officer of the OSM, Ms. Madeleine Careau; the Vice-president, External Communications and Public Affairs, at Standard Life, Mr. Vincenzo Ciampi; the deputy advisor for culture and for the downtown area of the City of Montreal, Ms. Catherine Słęvigny; the head of programming at Espace Musique, the music radio service of Radio-Canada, Ms. Anne Słęrode; the Dean of McGill Universityĺ─˘s Schulich School of Music, Mr. Don McLean; and several members of the jury.

About Standard Life

The first life insurance company to transact business in Canada, in 2008 Standard Life marks its 175th year of operations. With 10,000 employees globally, Standard Life plc is a major international financial services group headquartered in Scotland. The firm provides asset-managing services for retirement, investment and protection to some seven million customers around the world. It has offices in the United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland, Germany, Austria, India and China, including Hong Kong. The Standard Life Assurance Company of Canada is Standard Life plc's largest operation outside the U.K., with 2,000 employees based in Montreal and across Canada, serving more than 1.3 million Canadians, including group insurance and pension plan participants. (www.standardlife.ca)

ĺ─ý Award-winning THE MAGIC FLUTE DIARIES shot in Toronto and key locationsaround the world ĺ─ý

Toronto, ON (November 25, 2008) ĺ─ý He's known for composing some of the most beautiful music ever. This holiday season, 'A' celebrates the enduring magic of musical genius Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart with two Canadian-produced specials from the Sullivan Entertainment library ĺ─ý MOZART DECODED and THE MAGIC FLUTE DIARIES. Premiering Saturday, December 20 at 7 p.m. ET on 'A' (check Atv.ca to confirm local broadcast times), MOZART DECODED is a one-hour documentary revealing the little-known details about the legendary composer and the inspiration behind his most famous masterpieces. THE MAGIC FLUTE DIARIES follows at 8 p.m. ET on 'A', a two-hour original Canadian film that gives a contemporary makeover to Mozart's final composition ĺ─ý and one of his most beloved ĺ─ý "The Magic Flute," and features performances by Toronto's renowned Opera Atelier Baroque Opera Company.

"MOZART DECODED and THE MAGIC FLUTE DIARIES offer viewers a comprehensive look at the music of one of the world's most legendary composers," said Susanne Boyce, President, Creative, Content and Channels, CTV Inc. "This holiday season, viewers can relive some of his most famous pieces of music and be entertained as they discover the inspiration behind them."

"My goal in creating THE MAGIC FLUTE DIARIESwas to take that antiquated, reserved world that people think of as high art and to remove it from the opera stage into a contemporary film," said Kevin Sullivan, President, Sullivan Entertainment. "The final production is not really an opera, it's more like a musical... with all of the most memorable songs and dance sequences set against the background of a contemporary love story done with style and panache."

The music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart has inspired and entertained people for over 250 years, but who was the man behind the music?

MOZART DECODED (Saturday, December 20 at 7 p.m. ET) takes an in-depth look at Mozart's tumultuous and often difficult life, from his beginnings as a musical prodigy through his rise to stardom and membership with the secretive Freemasons, to his mysterious and untimely death at the age of 35. What inspired him to compose the musical masterpieces that immortalized him as one of the greatest composers the world has ever known?

Following the one-hour documentary, the two-hour original Canadian film THE MAGIC FLUTE DIARIES (Saturday, December 20 at 8 p.m. ET) explores love, betrayal, reward and retribution against the backdrop of one of Mozart's most famous musical scores. Set in modern-day Saltzburg, Austria, young virtuoso singer Tom (Warren Christie, OCTOBER ROAD) is cast as the lead in a staging of the "The Magic Flute" opera for Mozart's 250th birthday. Overwhelmed by the genius of the score, Tom fantasizes the opera in his mind, and quickly becomes obsessed with his mysterious co-star, Masha, (opera singer Mireille Asselin) an unknown Russian soprano of extraordinary talent who is constantly isolated from the rest of the company by her manager, Dr. Nagel (Rutger Hauer, Blade Runner). Tom's interest in Masha becomes backstage intrigue as fantasy crosses into reality.

Winner of Best Family Film at the 2008 New York, Staten Island Film Festival, THE MAGIC FLUTE DIARIES was shot on location in Salzburg, Vienna, Munich and Toronto, and showcases Toronto's internationally-renowned Opera Atelier Baroque Opera Company.

MOZART DECODED and THE MAGIC FLUTE DIARIES were written, directed and produced by multiple Emmy and Gemini Award-winningfilmmaker Kevin Sullivan (ANNE OF GREEN GABLES: A NEW BEGINNING, ANNE OF GREEN GABLES, ROAD TO AVONLEA).

About Sullivan Entertainment:

Now in its 29th year, Sullivan Entertainment continues to be an internationally-recognized and award-winning producer of television series, feature films and mini-series. Established in 1979 by Kevin Sullivan and Trudy Grant, Sullivan Entertainment quickly became the producer of Canada's most watched television, with the GREEN GABLES-AVONLEA franchise. Great successes for Sullivan Entertainment have included the critically-acclaimed television series WIND AT MY BACK, BUTTERBOX BABIES ĺ─ý the highest-rated Canadian television movie of all time ĺ─ý and THE PIANO MAN'S DAUGHTER, starring Stockard Channing and Christian Campbell based on the novel by Timothy Findley. Sullivan Entertainment productions have been praised for their visual beauty, their strong storytelling and the fine acting through which they weave their unique spell. Sullivan Entertainment has expanded into several additional successful business ventures, including the Sullivan Boutique, Sullivan Entertainment International, Sullivan Home Entertainment and Sullivan Animation.

About 'A'

Fresh and dynamic, 'A' is the new home of established primetime hits, critical favourites and big-buzz new series. 'A' delivers Canadian television's most exciting new schedule in Atlantic Canada, Ontario and British Columbia as well as in Alberta on ACCESS in certain primetime hours. 'A' spotlights day-to-day life in local communities in Victoria/Vancouver, Barrie/Toronto, Ottawa, London, Windsor and Wingham through its award-winning 'A' News programming. 'A' is owned by CTV Limited, a division of CTVglobemedia, Canada's premier multi-media company. More information about 'A' may be found at www.atv.ca.

Monday, November 24, 2008

Opera Atelier rides a wave of success

Riding a wave of success, Opera Atelier anticipates

high demand for tickets when Poppea goes on sale December 1st

When the curtain came down on the sold-out final performance of Opera Atelierĺ─˘s The Abduction from the Seraglio earlier this month, there was much to cheer about. A lively new production enjoyed by critics and audiences alike, Abduction drew an average attendance of 90 per cent over the run and claimed its place as Opera Atelierĺ─˘s third most successful production, behind this springĺ─˘s mega-hit Idomeneo and The Magic Flute (2001).

With subscriptions up 30 per cent over last yearĺ─˘s total, Opera Atelierĺ─˘s general manager Jane Hargraft anticipates sales will be brisk when single tickets to Monteverdiĺ─˘s The Coronation of Poppea go on sale Monday, December 1.

ĺ─˙Subscriptions are at an all-time high so there are fewer single tickets available for last minute buyers. Given the fact that Poppea was completely sold-out when OA presented it in 2002, I think we can expect to see a sharp and early demand for tickets,ĺ─¨ said Hargraft.

The Coronation of Poppea runs for six performances April 25 to May 2, 2009 at the Elgin Theatre. Male soprano Michael Maniaci returns to sing Nero, the role which garnered him a Dora Award nomination for best operatic performance in 2002. Toronto audiences were treated to Maniaciĺ─˘s tremendous vocal technique last season when he appeared as Idamante, the object of Measha Brueggergosmanĺ─˘s obsession in Idomeneo. Maniaciwill be joined byCanadian mezzo-soprano Kimberly Barber making her OA debut in the role of Ottavia.

Tickets for The Coronation of Poppea are $30 to $135 and go on sale December 1, 2007 at TicketMaster 416-872-5555, on-line at www.ticketmaster.ca or at the Elgin Theatre box office. Operatix are $20 and may be purchased by people under the age of 30 with valid I.D. in person at the Elgin Theatre Box Office (subject to availability). Group discounts (15 people +) are available by calling 416.703.3767 ext. 22.

Opera Atelier is Canadaĺ─˘s premier baroque theatre company, producing opera, ballet and drama from the 17th and 18th centuries. While drawing upon the aesthetics and ideals of the period, Opera Atelier goes beyond ĺ─˙reconstructionĺ─¨ and infuses each production with an inventive theatricality that resonates with modern audiences. Over the past two decades, under the direction of founders Marshall Pynkoski and Jeannette Lajeunesse-Zingg, Opera Atelier has garnered acclaim for its performances at home as well as in the United States, Europe and Asia.

2008/09 Season Sponsor: Sun Life Financial

Production Sponsor: BMO Financial Group

2008/09 Major Sponsors: Scotiabank, TD Canada Trust Music, The Dominion of Canada General Assurance Company

The ESO Brings Together the Best in Wine, Food and Music- January 30, 2009

The ESO brings the best of wine, food

and music together in perfect harmony!

Flavours of BCĺ─˘s Naramata Bench Wine Fundraiser

January 30, 2009- Tickets On-Sale Now!

Edmonton, AB ĺ─Â The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (ESO) is pleased to invite you to their inaugural wine-tasting fundraiser- Flavours of BCĺ─˘s Naramata Bench. On January 30, 2009- the ESO is hosting a celebration of fine wines featuring the best of Canadaĺ─˘s most in-demand wine region- BCĺ─˘s Naramata Bench.

Representatives from 10 different wineries will be on hand to showcase their award-winning wines. Guests will be treated to an evening of fine food, wine, music, auctions and prizes with all proceeds going to support our Edmonton Symphony Orchestra.

Registration begins at 6:30pm on January 30th. The Wine Tasting/Auction runs from 7:00-10:00pm.

Only 400 tickets are available for this fundraiser. Events tickets can be purchased through the Winspear Centre Box Office for $130 (agency fees apply). Tickets are on-sale now! A tax deductible receipt will be issued for a portion of the ticket cost.

All tickets purchased before December 25th will be automatically entered into a draw for a pair of 6-pack Sampler Passes for the ESOĺ─˘s 2009/10 concert season.

This ESO special event is made possible by the sponsorships of Naramata Bench, California Closets, Magic 99, Winspear Centre, Vines-Riverbend, Parcom Marketing, Corporate Copy, Avenue Magazine, and The Artworks.

Pinchas Zukerman to become Principal Guest Conductor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra while continuing as Music Director of the National Arts Centre Orchestra

Ottawa, Canada ĺ─ý Pinchas Zukerman, Music Director of the National Arts Centre Orchestra, will join the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) as Principal Guest Conductor from January 2009. The world-famous violinist, violist, conductor, pedagogue, chamber musician and mentor adds this prestigious new appointment in London, England, to his international soloist career and to his 16-week commitment to the NAC Orchestra in Ottawa, Canada, where he continues to live.

In March 2006, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra invited Pinchas Zukerman to play/conduct aconcert at Cadogan Hall, London; the event was a huge success and led to a critically acclaimed RPO tour of the USA in January 2008 with Pinchas Zukerman conducting the Orchestraand performing the Beethoven or Bruch Violin Concerto in 22 concerts across the country.

ĺ─˙The decision to offer Pinchas Zukerman the post wasa unanimous one from the musicians of the RPOaftera hugely successful tour of the USA in January of this year. Everyone was impressed by his musicianship, his commitment to the Orchestraand his constant striving for the highest possible results. Weare thrilled to have him on boardwith his work with the Orchestra involving Londonand UKdates with emphasis on community workand international toursĺ─¨.

Pinchas Zukerman says:

ĺ─˙It is an honour to become a part of the Royal Philharmonicĺ─˘s storied history, joining such past luminaries as Sir Thomas Beecham, Rudolf Kempe and Antal Dorł░ti. Our January tour gave me the opportunity to play 22 concerts in 11 states and was a joyous experience both personally and professionally. I look forward to working with these outstanding musicians as Principal Guest Conductor.ĺ─¨

Recognised as a phenomenon for nearly four decades, Pinchas Zukerman recently turned 60 years of age; he is marking the milestone with an extensive schedule of concerts, events and educational activities across the globe during the current season, travelling to 17 countries, and performing in over 30 major cities.

Pinchas Zukerman was named Music Director of the National Arts Centre Orchestra in 1998. In addition to a busy performance schedule at the NAC, he has just returned from a Western Canada Tour with the NAC Orchestra, which received multiple standing ovations and rave reviews at every concert. The Performance and Education Tour, which was his eighth tour since becoming Music Director, included over 130 education events. Maestro Zukerman is the driving force behind the national role the NAC plays in education. He founded the NAC Summer Music Institute (SMI) in 1999 which now includes the Young Artists Programme, Conductors Programme and Composers Programme. Over ten years the SMI has provided training with an international faculty headed by Zukerman to 581 participants from 34 countries. In 2007, Pinchas Zukerman launched the Institute of Orchestral Studies, a season-long institute charged with developing highly talented musicians for orchestral careers. A pioneer of distance learning, he champions the NACĺ─˘s broadband videoconferencing programme known as Hexagon.

Prior to joining the National Arts Centre Orchestra, Pinchas Zukerman was Music Director of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra from 1980 to 1987, Music Director of the South Bank Festival in England from 1979 to 1981, Principal Guest Conductor of the Dallas Symphonyĺ─˘s International Summer Music Festival from 1991-1995 and the Dallas Symphony from 1993 to 1995, and Artistic Director of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestraĺ─˘s Summer MusicFest, from 1996 to 1999.

Friday, November 21, 2008

Doing Leonard Cohen

DOING LEONARD COHEN

RETURNS TO CALGARY AFTER EIGHT YEARS

Calgary, AB ĺ─ý By popular demand, One Yellow Rabbit is pleased to bring back one of its most highly acclaimed creations: Doing Leonard Cohen.

Running from November 25 to 29 2008, in the Big Secret Theatre, the One Yellow Rabbit Ensemble reprises this multi-layered homage to Leonard Cohen, which features some 50 poems from early works like Death of a Lady's Man and The Spice Box of Earth, as well as an extended treatment of the novel Beautiful Losers.

Following the Calgary performances, One Yellow Rabbit travels to Toronto, where Doing Leonard Cohen and Sylvia Plath Must Not Die will be performed in repertory at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts from December 2 to 13, 2008.

Along with its sultry yet aggressive movement, the hallucinatory stream of consciousness captures the erotic and sensual qualities of Cohen's finest poetic voice. Put on your bell-bottoms and Greek sandals, then get set to revel in the sexy 60s as only Leonard canĺ─ţand did. Don't miss the show the Globe & Mail called "poetry in motion".

One Yellow Rabbit is also thrilled to present a special one-performance-only edition of Sylva Plath Must Not Die ĺ─ý Unplugged Sylvia Plath and Anne Sexton, two of the 20th century's most prolific and complex literary figures, are inexorably linked, as much by their mutual zeal for life as by their infamous deaths.

Originally premiering at the 2008 High Performance Rodeo, the One Yellow Rabbit Ensemble invites audiences to revisit its voyeuristic journey to another era in a special pay-what-you-can performance on Saturday, November 29, at 2:00 pm in the Big Secret Theatre.

Canada's Julian Kuerti Saves the Day with Boston Symphony Orchestra

Torontoĺ─˘s Julian Kuerti has just scored another triumph!Kuerti is in his second season as assistant conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

At very short notice, the young maestro (in his early 30s) has filled in for famed Russian conductor Gennady Rozhdestvensky, in a lengthy and demanding program.Lynn Harrell, one of the worldĺ─˘s leading cellists, was soloist.

The Kuerti father and son join forces with the HPO in two works by Felix Mendelssohn for piano and orchestra ĺ─ý the Piano Concerto No. 1 in G minor and the Capriccio Brillante.Also on the program are Beethovenĺ─˘s Symphony No. 8 in F and Hungarian Sketches by Bela Bartok.

Tickets, $35; $30 for seniors and students; and information may be obtained by phoning 416-922-3714, ext. 103, or visiting www.mooredaleconcerts.com.

Anton Kuerti is artistic director of Mooredale Concerts.The series, celebrating its 20th season, was founded by Kristine Bogyo, late wife of Anton Kuerti and mother of Julian and his brother, cellist Rafael Kuerti.

Canadian Brass/Dec 23, 8 PM/RTH

THE CANADIAN BRASS

Tuesday, December 23, 2008 at 8 PM / Roy Thomson Hall

$59.50 - $29.50 -Call 416-872-4255 or online at www.roythomson.com

or visit the Roy Thomson Hall Box Office

The Canadian Brass is back, in whatĺ─˘s become an annual holiday favourite. This concert promises festive favourites, fine new repertoire, and mischievous hijinks, so characteristic of the Brass, with special guest Eric Robertson, Juno Award-winning organist.

Youĺ─˘d expect any artist with a career approaching its fourth decade to spend more time looking back than forward. Not so for the members of Canadian Brass. This pioneering quintet certainly has no shortage of past glories upon which to reflect, but they are far, far too busy for that. Now in its 38th year, the group has always followed its heart, performing and recording the music it loves, regardless of its genre of origin. Whether rooted in classical, opera, jazz, or pop, they tackle their chosen compositions with a potent combination of enthusiasm and technical virtuosity. The current lineup of Canadian Brass comprises Chuck Daellenbach, Gene Watts, French horn player Jeff Nelsen, and trumpeters Joe Burgstaller and Brandon Ridenour.

Their rare ability to both entertain and educate with their music dates right back to their earliest days. Chuck and Gene had met in Toronto, and took their newly formed Canadian Brass to the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra where they became artists-in-residence in 1971, and the players remained members of the orchestra until 1977. Their early performances were primarily for schoolchildren, and it was in front of this tough audience that the group honed their skills as entertainers. From there, their career took off at a rapid rate.

As well as entertaining millions of music lovers around the globe with their recordings and concerts, Canadian Brass has performed an invaluable educational service. Their work has radically redefined the place of brass within classical music, and their example has inspired literally millions of young players. By the end of that decade, Canadian Brass had toured China, the first Western ensemble to tour China after the ĺ─˙smashing of the Gang of Fourĺ─¨, headlined Carnegie Hall in triumphant fashion, and toured Europe extensively, proving both the commercial and artistic viability of the Canadian Brass concept.

There has been no stopping Canadian Brass ever since, and a full list of career highlights, accolades and awards is simply too lengthy to repeat. Any single year out of the career of the Brass would read like the entire career of most performers. Canadian Brassĺ─˘ continued open-mindedness in both a musical and business sense will stand them in good stead. Theyĺ─˘re as passionate about making music and entertaining audiences as ever, and their future looks bright. Look for the sound of Canadian Brass to ring clear, loud and proud for many years to come.

Nielsen Symphony no. 4 begins with a violent and expansive principal theme that links the entire work together. The title ĺ─˙TheInextinguishableĺ─¨ reflects Nielsenĺ─˘s personal motto: ĺ─˛Music is life, and, like life, inextinguishable.ĺ─˘ The second movement opens passionately with a long line in the violins and climaxes to an oboe solo by Principal Oboe Mike Byrne. The highlight of the final movement is the timpani solos that pit mentor against student; Principal Timpani Bill Linwood and his student Corey Rae. View the finale movement as performed by the BBC Orchestra: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VFn2Pt3m8Q

Canadian cellist John Friesen known for his exciting and passionate playing abilityperforms Edward Elgarĺ─˘s Cello Concerto in E minor. His four solo recordings, and his latest disc, Ascendance have been met with critical acclaim for their beauty of tone and depth of expression. Music from his recordings appears in Oscar winning actor, Sir Ben Kingsleyĺ─˘s, latest movie Fifty Dead Men Walking scheduled for release in 2009.

Elgarĺ─˘s Cello Concerto in E minor is a cornerstone of the cello repertoire and is also said to be Elgarĺ─˘s last great success. The cello opens the work with a darkly dramatic theme, recurrent as the emotional force, binding the concerto together. Opposing minor and major key signatures creates a tonal instability in sharp contrast with the lyrical melodies heard both in the orchestra and the solo cello. Yo-Yo Ma can be viewed on youtube playing the concerto: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RM9DPfp7-Ck

The 2008-2009 season marks Tania Millerĺ─˘s sixth as music director of the Victoria Symphony, an appointment that made her the first woman to hold such a significant position in Canada. Her vibrancy and dynamic approach to music making have inspired many innovations with the Victoria Symphony and a new era of artistic growth forthe orchestra.

The Victoria Symphony is Vancouver Islandĺ─˘s largest and most active arts organization offering its audiences 68 years of tradition, a commitment to fostering new music and a dedication to community involvement through music education. Showcasing the outstanding talents of its musicians and guest artists the Victoria Symphonyĺ─˘s 2008-2009 season offers a diverse and exciting line-up of over 50 concerts led by its vibrant Music DirectorTania Miller.

The Victoria Symphony led by Maestra Tania Miller performs ĺ─˙The Inextinguishableĺ─¨ and Elgarĺ─˘s Cello Concerto featuring soloist John Friesenon Sunday, December 7 at 2:30pm and Monday, December 8 at 8:00pm at the Royal Theatre. Tickets from $28.50 for adults, $16.00 for students can be purchased by calling 250.385.6515 or 250.386.6121 or online at www.victoriasymphony.ca.

The Victoria Symphony wishes to thank and acknowledge concert sponsorThe Wedgewood Hotel based in Vancouver, BC.

David Briskin leads UTSO in Bernstein, Brahms, Dvorak

DAVID BRISKIN LEADS THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA IN MUSIC BY BERNSTEIN, BRAHMS, AND DVOë˛ł┼K

TORONTO ĺ─ý On Friday, November 28, conductor David Briskin will lead the University of Toronto Symphony Orchestra in its second concert of the season. The program begins with Leonard Bernsteinĺ─˘s Overture to Candidein commemoration of the 90th anniversary of the composerĺ─˘s birth, followed by Brahmsĺ─˘ Violin Concerto in D featuring student soloist Luri Lee. Rounding out the program is Dvoë˘ł░kĺ─˘s Symphony No. 9 (From the New World). The concert takes place at 7:30 pm in MacMillan Theatre in the Edward Johnson Building, 80 Queenĺ─˘s Park. Tickets ($18 adults and $10 seniors/students) can be purchased at the box office in person or by calling 416-978-3744.

Internationally recognized as a conductor of extraordinary versatility and discernment, DAVID BRISKIN currently serves as Music Director and Principal Conductor of The National Ballet of Canada. For seven years he served as Conductor with American and is now a frequent guest conductor with some of the worldĺ─˘s leading Ballet companies including New York City Ballet and San Francisco Ballet, among others. He also served as Music Director of Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre for three years and Conductor for the The Juilliard Schoolĺ─˘s Dance Division for 12. On the concert stage, Mr. Briskin has appeared with the Pittsburgh, Detroit, Baltimore, Cincinnati Pops and Singapore Symphony Orchestras, as well as the Hong Kong Philharmonic and the National Symphony Orchestra of Costa Rica. He has also served for six years as the Music Director of the Masterwork Chorus and Orchestra in New York City, performing annually at Carnegie Hall. Mr. Briskin was appointed Director of Orchestral Studies and Conductor of the University of Toronto Symphony Orchestra on July 1, 2008.

LURI LEE is a fourth year student at the University of Toronto, completing her Bachelor of Music degree in Performance. She began studying the violin at the age of 6 in Korea, and completed music studies at the Claude Watson Arts Program and the Young Artist Performance Academy Program at the Royal Conservatory of Music. She currently studies with Erika Raum and appears as a soloist at this concert as a winner of the student concerto competition. She has been the top prize winners of the Korean National Youth Musician Competition and the Canadian Music Competition. Luri has performed in master classes for David Stewart, Annalee Patipatanakoon, and Mayumi Seiler. She has also performed chamber music with Steve Dann and Jean-Michel Fonteneau at the Domain Forget Chamber Music Festival. She has received the Maime May scholarship from the University of Toronto (2005-7) and the Lorand Fenyves String scholarship in 2007.

Part of Canadaĺ─˘s top university, the University of Toronto FACULTY OF MUSIC has an illustrious history as one of North Americaĺ─˘s leading centres for the scholarly and professional study of music, offering a rich array of degree and diploma programs from the undergraduate to post-graduate levels. Many of this countryĺ─˘s greatest musicians such as John Weinzweig, Lois Marshall, Elmer Iseler, Adrienne Pieczonka, Russell Braun, and the St. Lawrence String Quartet have studied or taught at the Faculty. With over 100 events featuring students, faculty and distinguished guests, the Facultyĺ─˘s performance season embodies its commitment to an education that champions diversity, depth and explorations. Highlights of the 2008-09 season include cellists Steven Isserlis and Shauna Rolston, baritone Sherrill Milnes, composer Maria Schneider, conductors David Briskin and Miah Im, jazz great Phil Nimmons, the Mirłä, and St. Lawrence String Quartets, the Gryphon Trio and Nexus.

For more information on this or other Faculty of Music concert series, please visit our website at www.music.utoronto.ca or contact the Box Office at 416-978-3744.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Sarah McLachlan wins 2009 Allan Waters Humanitarian Award

Vancouver, BC (November 20, 2008) - The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) and CTV today announced that Sarah McLachlan, one of Canada's most celebrated artists, will receive the Allan Waters Humanitarian Award during the JUNO Gala Dinner & Awards on Saturday, March 28. The Award, named after CHUM Ltd. founder Allan Waters and made possible by funding from the CTV/CHUM benefits package, recognizes an outstanding Canadian artist whose humanitarian contributions have positively enhanced the social fabric of Canada.

"CARAS is honoured to present Sarah McLachlan with the Allan Waters Humanitarian Award. She is an inspirational example of how music can touch lives and positively affect change in communities," said Melanie Berry, President of CARAS.

"I am honoured and humbled to receive the Allan Waters Humanitarian Award. I feel so lucky and blessed in my life and giving back feels right and good -- it's the best way I know to thank the universe," said Sarah McLachlan.

This past October, Sarah McLachlan celebrated the 20-year anniversary of a triumphant career marked with multi-platinum selling albums, numerous awards and sold-out tours. Alongside her musical successes, McLachlan is well known for her humanitarian contributions to charities and organizations at home and internationally, often using music as a platform for social change.

In 1997, Sarah McLachlan founded Lilith Fair, a touring concert festival organized to showcase and promote women in music. The tour exclusively headlined female artists and bands -- an ambitious and ground-breaking idea that had never been achieved in such a large capacity -- and garnered the support and participation of many of music's top artists including Bonnie Raitt, Christina Aguilera, Erykah Badu, Fiona Apple, Indigo Girls, Lisa Loeb, Nelly Furtado, Sheryl Crow and Tracy Chapman to name a few.

Over the next three years, Lilith Fair continued to tour across Canada and the U.S. bringing together over 2 million music fans and showcasing more than 100 artists. The festival became hugely popular with the media and was lauded by the music industry for its positive impact. By the end of its three-year run in 1999, Lilith Fair had raised more than $7 million for charities and women's shelters across North America.

It was also during this time that Sarah McLachlan received the ElizabethCady Stanton Visionary Award for advancing the careers of women in music. New York Governor George Pataki presented McLachlan with the Award in 1998, fittingly on the 150th anniversary of the first women's rights convention in Seneca Falls, NY.

Another proud moment came in 2000, when McLachlan was bestowed Canada's highest civilian honor, the Order of Canada, for her outstanding achievements, dedication to the community and service to the nation.

In 2004, McLachlan teamed with director Sophie Muller to create the video for the single "World on Fire," again using music as a platform for social awareness. The song's charged lyrics and the simple yet impactful images compared dollar amounts spent on show business splurges against the impact of global aid to developing countries. New York Times' music writer Jon Pareles hailed the video as a "brilliantly modest gesture."

By design, the video cost only $15 to produce, with the remainder of the $150,000 production budget donated to 11 wide-ranging charitable organizations including CARE, Engineers Without Borders, Help The Aged, Warchild and Heifer International. "World On Fire" received a 2004 Grammy Award nomination for Best Short Form Music Video and the album, AFTERGLOW, became certified double platinum in the U.S. and 5X platinum in Canada.

Sarah McLachlan also dedicates much of her time to support music education and the betterment of youth. In 1999, she founded the Sarah McLachlan Foundation to help bring music into the lives of young Canadians, especially in underserved communities, and in 2003 established the first Sarah McLachlan Music Outreach ĺ─ý Arts Umbrella Project in Vancouver's inner city. The program offers students free high-quality music lessons, educational workshops, mentorship and support networks to encourage students to explore the joys of music and learning.

A proponent of music education, she also finds time to help national music programs outside of her Foundation, including CARAS' music education charity, MusiCounts. In January 2008, McLachlan participated in the first Vancouver-area MusiCounts presentation, performing for more than 300 students from seven recipient schools who received much-needed Band Aid instrument grants.

McLachlan continues to be an inspirational role model for young Canadians, and recently helped to kick off the first-ever National Me To We Day on October 17, 2008, in Toronto. She joined an outstanding line-up of community leaders, motivational speakers and artists at a stadium event packed with thousands of young people in support of Free The Children, a global network of children helping children.

A well-known animal lover, McLachlan passionately advocates for animal rights. Since 2006, she has been the spokesperson for the BC Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, speaking out on behalf of innocent animals that have suffered abuse and neglect. McLachlan sang a stirring rendition of her multiplatinum hit song "Angel" for a series of television spots to promote the BC SPCA's animal adoption campaign. Her sincere, soulful voice and socially conscious lyrics have touched millions of fans and helped raise awareness for numerous charitable causes close to her heart.

Since signing with Nettwerk Records in 1988, every one of Sarah McLachlan's studio and live albums and videos have been certified gold, platinum, multi-platinum or diamond by the Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA). She has sold over 26 million records worldwide since her debut album, TOUCH, followed by a string of monumental albums including FUMBLING TOWARDS ECSTASY (1994, 3X platinum), SURFACING (1997, diamond), MIRRORBALL (1999, 4X platinum) and AFTERGLOW (2003, 5X platinum).

McLachlan is an eight-time JUNO Award winner including a clean sweep in 1998 for Album of the Year, Single of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year and Songwriter of the Year. She has also received Grammy Awards for her stellar hits, "Building a Mystery" (Best Female Pop Vocal, 1998), "Last Dance" (Best Pop Instrumental, 1998) and "I Will Remember You" which won for Best Female Pop Vocal in 1999.

The milestone release of CLOSER: THE BEST OF SARAH MCLACHLAN (October 2008) marks her first-ever career anthology featuring 13 classic tracks personally selected by the artist from her award-winning catalogue. The new collection arrives exactly two decades after her professional debut and celebrates her timeless hits while signalling a new beginning with two newly recorded and previously unreleased songs, "U Want Me 2" and "Don't Give Up On Us."

CARAS gratefully acknowledges CTV for its outstanding support of Canadian talent and for its support of this award.

For more information about the Allan Waters Humanitarian Award, information on The 2009 JUNO Awards, or to download photos of Sarah McLachlan, go to www.junoawards.ca.

Sponsors of The 2009 JUNO Awards include FACTOR, Canada's Private Radio Broadcasters and the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage's "Canada Music Fund," The Province of British Columbia, The City of Vancouver, Music BC and Radio Starmaker Fund.

About Allan WatersThe late Allan Waters, founder of CHUM Limited, started off with Toronto's legendary 1050 CHUM in 1954. The broadcasting pioneer fostered a deep commitment in all CHUM radio and television stations to community involvement and public service. In 1967, he founded the CHUM Charitable Foundation to provide financial assistance to charitable organizations and social service agencies, which has had a positive impact on the lives of thousands of people. Allan Waters will always be remembered as a great leader with a commitment to community support.

About CARAS:The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences/L'academie canadienne des arts et des sciences de l'enregistrement (CARAS) is a not-for-profit organization created to preserve and enhance the Canadian music and recording industries and to contribute toward higher artistic and industry standards. The main focus of CARAS is the exploration and development of opportunities to showcase and promote Canadian artists and music through vehicles such as The JUNO Awards. For more information on the 38th Annual JUNO Awards or The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences' (CARAS) please visit our websites at www.carasonline.ca and www.junoawards.ca.

About CTV:CTV, Canada's largest private broadcaster, offers a wide range of quality news, sports, information, and entertainment programming. It has the number-one national newscast, CTV NATIONAL NEWS WITH LLOYD ROBERTSON, and is the number-one choice for prime-time viewing. CTVglobemedia Inc. is Canada's premier multi-media company which owns CTV Inc. and The Globe and Mail. CTV Inc. also owns radio stations across the country, and leading national specialty channels. Other CTVglobemedia investments include an interest in Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, and in Dome Productions, a North American leader in the provision of mobile high definition production facilities. More information about CTV may be found on the company website at www.ctv.ca.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

4th Line Theatre is holding auditions for 2009 summer season!

4th Line Theatre is holding auditions for 2009 summer season!

Millbrook, ONĺ─Â4th Line Theatre announces that it will be holding auditions for its 2009 summer season and is inviting professional actors to submit their resume and headshots for consideration. The company is looking for the following types of actors for the following shows:

The Right Road to PontypoolWritten by Alex Poch-Goldin and Directed by Kim Blackwell

June 30 ĺ─ý August 1

A loving chronicle of one manĺ─˘s sun kissed dream for Torontoĺ─˘s working class Jews in the early 1900ĺ─˘s. With a way of life now vanished, Pontypool boasted five resorts in its heyday as a summer haven for thousands of Eastern European immigrants in the heart of Protestant southern Ontario.

2 women ages 18-25

2 men ages 25-30

Welcome DeathWritten and Directed by Robert Winslow

August 10 - 29

ĺ─˙Whodunitĺ─¨ fans will love this Victorian murder-mystery set right here in Millbrook! In 1873, the discovery of a young womanĺ─˘s body in a field spurs a Coronerĺ─˘s inquest that pushes past the restraints of science and enters the realm of the spirit to find unknowable answers.

Both Equity and non-equity artists are invited to apply. Weĺ─˘re sorry, due to limited staff resources, only actors who are invited to audition will be contacted. Please do not call or e-mail the theatre to confirm receipt of your package.

The TSO Messiah Day

CELEBRATE MESSIAH DAY WITH

THE TORONTO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

The Toronto Symphony Orchestra gears up for the holiday season with TORONTO'S FAVOURITE MESSIAH, Tuesday, December 16 - Sunday, December 21. To add to the festive spirit, the TSO is offering a special incentive for everyone who buys a ticket to the TORONTO'S FAVOURITE MESSIAH on MESSIAH DAY - Thursday, November 20 - in the form of a limited edition TSO ornament!

"MESSIAH is a grand, majestic spectacle that should be seen and heard by every Torontonian."Toronto Life

As always, the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir will participate in the MESSIAH, this year led by their very own Conductor and Artistic Director Noel Edison. The stellar cast of Canadian vocalists are all making their TSO debuts! They are: soprano Gillian Keith, mezzo-soprano Allyson McHardy, tenor Frłędłęric Antoun, and bass Robert Gleadow.

The TSO will also include their other Christmas concerts in this special offer; purchase a ticket on MESSIAH DAY to A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS (December 9 and 10) and receive a keepsake Christmas ornament. THE SNOWMANTM (December 14) is already sold out, so act fast to get your tickets for TORONTO'S FAVOURITE MESSIAH and A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS and receive this special gift.

Middlefield Group, a Toronto based investment management company, is a production sponsor for the TSO's Toronto's Favourite Messiah.

* free ornament while quantities last. Offer valid for Toronto's Favourite Messiah, A Very Merry Christmas and SnowmanTM ticket purchases on November 20, 2008 only and does not work in conjunction with any other offer.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

4th Line Theatre Announces Two World Premieres for 2009 Season

4th Line Theatre Announces Two World Premieres for 2009 Season

Millbrook, ON ĺ─ý 4th Line Theatreĺ─˘s 2009 season offers two world premieres, both fruits of the companyĺ─˘s New Play Development Program which fosters and develops new works with a view to a final staging at the Winslow Farm. ĺ─˙We are especially proud and excited about these two new plays, which touchstone the stories of real places and people in our community,ĺ─¨ says Artistic Director, Robert Winslow.

Bringing back the talents of Kim Blackwell as director (Schoolhouse 2007, 2008) and written by Alex Poch-Goldin, who has worked on the play as a candidate in 4th Lineĺ─˘s New Plays Program, The Right Road to Pontypool is a fascinating look at the little-known role of Jewish resorts in Pontypoolĺ─˘s history. From itĺ─˘s inception as a sun-kissed dream of a Jewish immigrant passing through on the way to Lindsay to a booming getaway for the working class Jew from the city, the story behind this play is already drawing attention from eager audience members around the province ĺ─ý many of whom have fond childhood memories of vacationing in Pontypool. Only a dream of days-gone-by now, this chronicle of a unique piece of the regionĺ─˘s history may come as a surprise to many locals, who know there is little left to show for it on Pontypoolĺ─˘s quiet streets. Production is scheduled for July of 2009, with previews on June 30th, July 1st and running Tuesdays through Saturdays until closing night on August 1st.

A little closer to home, Welcome Death is sure to draw ĺ─˙whodunitĺ─¨ lovers and anyone curious about a Victorian murder mystery right here in Millbrook! The story follows the journey of a Coronerĺ─˘s inquest into the mysterious and seemingly unsolvable killing of young Elizabeth Deyell, who made the walk from Millbrook to Port Hope in the middle of a wintry February night in 1873. When her body is found in a field outside of Welcome in the spring, the widowed Coroner pushes past the restraints of science and enters the realm of the spirit to find unknowable answers. Written and directed by 4th Lineĺ─˘s Artistic Director, Robert Winslow also stars as the driven Coroner Robert Lawrence Maxwell, whose efforts are historically documented in our regionĺ─˘s archives. Welcome Death will run six days each week on the Meadow Stage with previews starting on August 10th & 11th, and continuing Mondays through Saturdays until August 29th. Please note: the Meadow stage is a ten minute walk from the parking field and is not accessible for wheelchairs.

The Right Road to Pontypool

Welcome Death

By Alex Poch-Goldin

By Robert Winslow

Directed by Kim Blackwell

Directed by Robert Winslow

July 2 ĺ─ý August 1

August 10 - 29

Previews: June 30, July 1

Previews: August 10, 11

Opening Night: Thursday, July 2

Opening Night: Wednesday, August 12

Tuesday to Saturday at 6pm (5 shows per week)

MONDAY to Saturday at 6pm (6 shows per week)

With an added performance on Monday, July 27th

BIOGRAPHIES

Robert Winslow - Artistic Director, Playwright, Director

As one of Canadaĺ─˘s leading theatre artists, Robert Winslow has written or co-written 13 of the original plays that have been presented environmentally at the 4th Line Theatre since 1992 and has directed the majority of the productions and performed in several of them. Mr. Winslow has performed in theatres across Canada, the U.S. and Britain since 1982, including the Blyth Festival, Theatre Network in Edmonton, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and the Cincinnati Playhouse. In 1988, he founded an improvisational theatre company, East City Productions, in Peterborough, Ontario and began directing and writing for the stage. His first full-length play, TheCavan Blazers, was staged as 4th Line Theatreĺ─˘s first production and later published by Ordinary Press. Additional writing credits include Gimme That Prime Time Religion, Cavan Casanova, Two Rounds and a Square, Fair Play, The Bell of Batoche, The Orchard, Crow Hill: TheTelephone Play, The Winslows of Derryvore and Doctor Barnardoĺ─˘s Children, all for 4th Line. Mr. Winslow has received numerous awards in recognition of his achievements in the performing arts, heritage and tourism sectors. In 2002, he was honoured with the Queenĺ─˘s Jubilee Medal and in 2006 he was inducted into the Peterborough and District Pathway of Fame. He also teaches a theatre workshop course in the Cultural Studies Department at Trent University.

Alex Poch-Goldin - Playwright

Mr. Poch-Goldin is an award-winning playwright and actor, whose work has been produced on international stages, for CBC TV and Bravo Television. He is also Artistic Director of the Toronto based Planet 88 Theatre Company. His theatre writing includes the recently produced, Dora nominated, Cringeworthy at Theatre Passe Muraille, Dora Award-winning This Hotel and Yahrzeit. This Hotel was Torontoĺ─˘s top selling show of 2000. He has worked for Canstage, Tapestry New Opera, Theatre Passe Muraille, Winnipeg Jewish Theatre, and the Tarragon Theatre. Alex has been Playwright in Residence at Canstage and Theatre Passse Muraille with the assistance of the Canada Council and the Ontario Arts Council.He has written an opera libretto for Tapestry New Opera entitled The Shadow, slated for production in 2009 and is currently Playwright in Residence at 4th Line Theatre. Alex has also developed work with Buddies in Bad Times (Jim and Shorty) Winnipeg Jewish Theatre (Louieĺ─˘s Dilemma) and the Tarragon Theatre (The Life of Jude). An acclaimed actor, Alex has worked extensively in film and television with the likes of Ron Howard, Russell Crowe, Glenn Close, Judy Davis and Phillip Seymour Hoffman. He lives and works in Toronto with his partner Kelly Thornton and their scrumptious daughter, Chloe Babette.

Kim Blackwell, Director & Artistic Associate (Since 2001)

Kim Blackwell is a veteran 4th Line director ĺ─ý 2009 marks her 15th year with the theatre company. Selected credits include: artistic associate directing Schoolhouse (2007, 2008),The Art of Silent Killing, That Summer, Crow Hill, The Cavan Blazers, Attrition, Gimme That Primetime Religion and many development workshops;stage managing The Cavan Blazers, Crow Hill, 1837: The Farmerĺ─˘s Revolt, Moodie Traill, The Farm Show, Stone Angel, Winslows of Derryvore, The Orchard. Recently directed Once A Flame;Fire in the Stable; TheShadow of Genius (Heritage Pavilion), Getting Lucky (Rhubarb!, 2005), Unlucky (Summerworks, 2003). Selected directing credits: The Ugly Man; Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet); Poor Super Man; Unidentified Human Remainsĺ─Â She also directed a sold-out run of Freedom 85 in the 2008 Fringe Festival, and has been accepted into the New York Frigid festival in February, 2008. Kim runs her own communications company ĺ─ý Blackwell Communications -- based in Toronto; her clients include Tapestry New Opera Works, Nightwood Theatre, Dancemakers, Stage Centre Productions and Birdland Theatre.

A history or theatre buff on your holiday gift list may also appreciate receiving a published script. Doctor Barnardoĺ─˘s Children, Crow Hill: The Telephone Play and Cavan Blazers scripts are available for $15 each. Copies of Leanna Brodieĺ─˘s Schoolhouse and For Home and Country are also available at the 4th Line office for $17 each. For tickets, gift certificates or scripts call 705-932-4445.

TICKETS can also be purchased online by visiting www.4thlinetheatre.on.ca or by phone at (705) 932-4445 or in person through associated ticket outlets: Bethany Hills Interiors at 17 King St. E. in Millbrook (705)-932-1600 or Peterborough Museum and Archives on Armour Hill, at Museum Drive off Hunter St. E. in Peterborough (705)-743-5180, as well as Kent Books at 55 Kent St. West in Lindsay (705) 328-1600.

4th Line Theatre, Canadaĺ─˘s premiere outdoor theatre company brings history to life on the barnyard stages of the picturesque 5th generation Winslow farm in Millbrook, Ontario. The theatre company is committed to preserving and promoting our Canadian cultural heritage through the development and presentation of regionally based, environmentally staged historical drama.

Critic Raves About Laitman's "Scarlet Letter" World Premiere

November 18, 2008

Critic Raves About Laitman's "Scarlet Letter" World Premiere

Ellis Widner of The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette was ecstatic in his praise of last week's world premiere of Lori Laitman's opera The Scarlet Letter: "Composer Lori Laitman has written gorgeous music that works hand-in-glove with the words of librettist David Mason and underpins the very essence of this psychological-social drama."

"Based on its world premiere Thursday at the Reynolds Performance Hall at the University of Central Arkansas, this great story seems be on its way to becoming great opera..... It is mostly sung dialog, but the few arias are at key moments are stunningly effective...Laitman's music can turn on an emotional dime, from the tense and emotionally complex confrontation between convicted adulteress Hester Prynne (soprano Christine Donahue) and Roger Chillingworth (baritone Robert Holden), the resurfaced husband determined to learn the identity of the child's father, to the achingly tender lullaby she sings to her daughter after Chillingworth departs. Laitman also shows great skill in the combination and repetition of motifs to heighten tension and revive a social-emotional subtext. At times, her music suggests the lushness of Stephen Sondheim."

The opera, based on Nathaniel Hawthorne's 19th century American masterpiece, was commissioned by The University of Central Arkansas. The composer was thrilled with the performance: "As a composer you are always dependent upon others to make your music come to life. For an opera, one is dependent on a whole community of talent. I was very fortunate to have found a fantastic community at The University of Central Arkansas. The amount of talent and dedication each person gave to "The Scarlet Letter" was staggering. It was my true pleasure to work closely with all involved, and a thrilling sensation to watch everyone give their all to "birth" this opera."

PORTLAND, Maine ĺ─ý The Choral Art Society (CAS) of Portland continues its tradition of holiday celebration and giving back to their community by holding their Messiah Sing-Along and Handel-on-Hunger Food Drive to benefit Project FEED, Portland's emergency food pantry. The event will be held this year on Monday, December 15 at 7:30 p.m. at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, 1342 Congress Street in Portland.

Handel's Messiah Sing-Along will be led by CAS Music Director Robert Russell, with the Southern Maine Symphony Orchestra accompanying. Admission to the Sing-Along is $5.00, students are admitted free. Attendees are asked to bring Messiah music scores, but CAS will have some to borrow at the event. Sing-Along participants can bring food and/or cash donations to benefit Project FEED's mission.

Other upcoming CAS holiday events include their annual Christmas at the Cathedral concerts, Saturday, December 6 (preview at noon, full concert at 8:00 p.m.) and Sunday, December 7 (2:30 and 7:00 p.m.) at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 307 Congress Street in Portland. An Epiphany Celebration will be held Saturday, January 3 at 7:30 p.m. at the Immanuel Baptist Church in Portland. Visit www.choralart.org for ticketing and further information.

About The Choral Art Society:The Society has more than 150 members who perform in three distinct ensembles: the symphonic Masterworks Chorus, the mid-sized Choral Art Singers, and the intimate a cappella Camerata. All singers are skilled amateurs, selected by audition. The Society offers an annual concert series and appears regularly as guests of the Portland Symphony Orchestra. Robert Russell, professor of music at the University of Southern Maine, is the conductor and artistic director of The Choral Art Society.

For more information about The Choral Art Society and the 2008-09 performances visit www.choralart.org or call (207) 828-0043.

Next La SCENA (Winter 2009) and La Scena Musicale (December-January)

The deadline has been extended for advertising in La SCENA's Winter 2009 issue, which is combined with La Scena Musicale's December-January issue (appearance: December 1). NEW DEADLINE: November 25 at 4 p.m.We also look at Higher Arts Education with our 2nd annual guide and we feature innovative arts educators in Dance, Theatre, Visual Arts and Film. Our Arts cover is an interview with Quebec filmmaker Sylvain Guy on the art of filmmaking and his new film Lłęo Huff. Our music cover celebrates Olivier Messiaen's anniversary with an analysis of his opera St. Francois d'Assis. Look also for our Holiday Gift Guide.

Reach over 50,000 readers with 25,000 copies distributed in Montreal and the province of Quebec. La SCENA contains award-winning editorial features, an extensive calendar of events (province of Quebec including radio and TV listings) and product reviews; readers consult each issue 4.5 times a month, generating 225,000 viewings per month or 675,000 for the issue.

Our 2008-2009 publishing schedule is now available: 4 issues of La SCENA and 6 issues of stand-alone La Scena Musicale (2 of these are national issues) plus 2 issues of The Music SceneOntario. For more info on rates and production please visit http://ads.scena.org for our 2008-2009 schedule or contact our sales department directly at 514-948-0509 or sales@scena.org

Special Feature in the next La SCENA: Top Movers and Shakers in the Arts

The Spring 2009 issue of La SCENA (April 1, 2009) will include a look at the most influential people in the Arts in Quebec (creators, performers, administrators, philantrophists, etc). Nominate your candidate by emailing editor@scena.org. Deadline: March 1, 2009

Want to reach the affluent, sophisticated, urban 35+ demographic or professional and student musicans and artists?

La Scena Musicale invites you into the lives of 100,000 highly educated Canadians with sophisticated taste in culture and lifestyle. Our readers are passionate about music, dance, theatre, film and visual arts, as well as food, fashion and their homes.

With over 15 years of experience sourcing marketing materials from printers across Canada, LSM can help you access the best available printing prices. Invest the money you save on better advertising ĺ─˛real estateĺ─˘ (larger ads and/or better ad positioning) in LSM through its varied media product offering.

La Scena Musicale/The Music Scene is a registered charity promoting music and the arts through three magazines and a website. We connect musicians/artists, the arts community and music/art lovers together through education and information. Help us continue our work with a donation (cash or goods) or by volunteering.

Monday, November 17, 2008

Shaw Festival: Successful 47th Season Closes

Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, November 17, 2008 . . . The Shaw Festivalĺ─˘s 47th season came to a close on November 16 with attendance 6% ahead of last season. After a successful hold-over of Shawĺ─˘s popular comedy, Getting Married, Executive Director Colleen Blake released the attendance results of the season, noting: ĺ─˙Despite the many tourism challenges facing us throughout the 2008 season ĺ─ý rising gas prices, a strong Canadian dollar and ongoing border issues ĺ─ý we are thrilled that The Shaw has produced such strong box office results.ĺ─¨

For the 2008 season, box office revenues reached $14.9 million (9% ahead of last season) with attendance reaching 281,000 or 70% of capacity for 792 performances. This represents an attendance increase of 6% over the previous year. The Shawĺ─˘s box office revenues represent an overall economic impact of close to $100 million on the Niagara region.

Artistic Director Jackie Maxwell commented on the artistic success of the season: ĺ─˙It is both gratifying and heartening to see our audience respond so strongly and enthusiastically to all areas of our programming. From virtually unknown pieces such as The Stepmother and After the Dance to revisioned Shaw favourites, from Sondheim in the Court House and Bernstein in the Festival to ourlunchtime smash hit, audiences embraced them all.ĺ─¨

Tickets for the 2009 season went on sale to Shaw Festival Members on November 8. Sales to the general public begin January 5 by mail, fax and on-line and January 10 by phone or in person. Details are available on the Shaw website www.shawfest.com or by calling 1-800-511-SHAW (7429).

Audited financial reports will be available January 23 at The Shawĺ─˘s Annual General Meeting, to be held at the Festival Theatre in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

The 2008 season was proudly presented by HSBC Bank Canada/HSBC Bank USA, N.A.

Moonchild Productions latest original play

Move Over Santa!

This holiday season the faerie kingdom pairs up the

Burlesque Queen and the Improv King in

LA BELLA LUNA

December 4 - 13

MOONCHILD PRODUCTIONS presents La Bella Luna, an original musical fantasy that will run at Mainline Theatre from December 4th through to the 13th.Holly Gauthier-Frankel, whose alter ego 'moonlights' as Miss Sugarpuss, plays The Moon with Uncalled For improv master, William Ward, (winner of the 2008 Fringe Festival Just for Laughs Best Comedy for Blastback Babyzap), as Thomas, the unwitting object of her affections.

In keeping with the season of sugarplum fairies, flying reindeer and magical nutcrackers, this quirky new extravaganza by Patrick de Moss (creator of Full Moon Fever and When I was Jesus) is a musical roller coaster ride that on the surface may appear mere whimsy, but on second inspection, sweeping aside the illusory veil of theatricality, is a multi-layered examination of what is 'real' and/or 'normal' in today's diversified society.Therein lies the genius of the production as the playwright lets the audience decide how deeply they want to fall down the rabbit hole to explore these universal concepts.

The Moon has fallen in love with Thomas, a young man already walking a razor sharp edge between reality and illusion, and though some in the Faerie community are pleased with this unorthodox union, darker forces are not.Though Thomas struggles to stay connected to the 'real' world through his waiting job at a local coffee shop, he appears to be following in the footsteps of his disturbed father more and more with each passing day and Ben and Ellen, his only two friends in the world, are at a loss as to what they can do to save him.They're not even sure that he wants to be saved.1980s pop classics flood the air as Thom's new faerie friends pull him deeper and deeper into their world, where his growing fascination with the moon could destroy not only himself but also the delicate balance of that parallel universe.

THOMAS: I don't think my landlord will let me keep faeries.

With Elisabeth de Grandprłę at the helm as director, most of the actors play double roles; one in the 'real' world and another in the faerie realm, again highlighting the dichotomy of co-existing realities.In addition to Gauthier-Frankel and Ward, they include (in alphabetical order) Nathaniel Erik, Dawn Ford, Taylor Hayward, Talar Kalaidjian, Jonathan Marquis, and Vikki Wong.Set and lighting design are by Cara de Grandprłę (Saving Celine and 7 Stories), with out-of-this-world costumes by Noemi Poulin (One Night, Lion in the Streets and 7 Stories) and stage management by Emilie Zifkin.

Founded in 1999, MOONCHILD PRODUCTIONS focuses on the development and professional staging of new plays by up-and-coming playwrights.Their goal is to reach out to both traditional and non-traditional theatre-going audiences with annual dynamic productions that tell imaginative stories artfully and seek above all to evoke, engage and entertain.

Diana Krall to close BC Scene May 2 and 3, 2009

Diana Krall to close BC Scene

May 2 and 3, 2009

Tickets on sale November 26

OTTAWA ĺ─ýDiana Krall, Canadaĺ─˘s internationally acclaimed queen of jazz will perform live at the National Arts Centreĺ─˘s Southam Hall on Saturday, May 2, 2009, and Sunday, May 3 at 8 p.m. The performances will closeoutBC Scene, a dazzling, multi-disciplinary arts festival taking placeover two weeks next springin Ottawa-Gatineauto celebrate the culture of British Columbia.

Tickets for the two showsgo on sale on November 26from Ticketmaster at 613-755-1111 or through the Ticketmaster link on the BC Scene web site atwww.bcscene.ca, or in person at the NAC Box Office at 53 Elgin Street. (A surcharge is applicable on all Ticketmaster purchases.)

This Ottawa stop on her national tour gives local audiences a chance to enjoy the spectacular songstress live on stage singing songs from her newest album, to be released early in 2009, along with favourites from her extensive repertoire.

Since her breakout album Stepping Out was released in 1993, Diana Krallĺ─˘s name has been synonymous with musical excellence.The B.C. nativeĺ─˘s sultry, imaginative interpretations of jazz standards have made her one of the worldĺ─˘s most admired and recognized musicians, whose collaborations with jazz superstars such as Ray Charles and Tony Bennett, have bridged the gap to create new generations of jazz lovers around the world. With her smooth, sexy style and lush arrangements, Diana Krall has seduced both audiences devoted to jazz, and those with other musical preferences. Along with her luscious delivery and fresh interpretations of traditional jazz favourites such as George Gershwinĺ─˘s timeless ĺ─˙They Canĺ─˘t Take That Away from Me, and Cole Porterĺ─˘s ĺ─˙Iĺ─˘ve Got You Under My Skin,ĺ─¨ Krall brings new life to more contemporary classics, such as Joni Mitchellĺ─˘s ĺ─˙A Case of You.ĺ─¨ Whether singing to her own remarkable piano accompaniment, or backed by a full orchestra, Diana Krallĺ─˘s talent and engaging performance style are undeniable, and audiences lucky enough to spend an evening under her musically hypnotic thrall donĺ─˘t quickly forget the experience.

Diana Krall at BC Scene is the must-be-there event of the season and the perfect Christmas gift for any music lover.Diana Krall appears at BC Scene thanks in part to the support ofThe Radcliffe Foundation.

Born into a music-loving family in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Diana Krall began her musical journey during early childhood. While her mother sang in church, her father, a stride pianist with an extensive knowledge of jazz and Tin Pan Alley standards, had a massive record collection that introduced her to many of the jazz and pop greats who would inform her own musical development.

"I was immersed in music growing up,"Krall recalls."My father has a vast collection; he collects 78 records, and that's how I first heard Fats Waller, Bing Crosby and Louis Armstrong. I connected with music on such an emotional level that it wasn't 'This is what I want to do,' it was 'This is what I have to do.'"

Krallĺ─˘s impressive skills on the piano attracted the attention of bass player Ray Brown (Ex-husband of jazz legend Ella Fitzgerald and longtime member of the Oscar Peterson Trio) and others, including producer Tommy LiPuma, who encouraged the young musician to hone her talents in Los Angeles and then in New York. Her career exploded when When I Look in Your Eyes won a GRAMMYČę for best jazz vocal and became the first jazz disc in twenty-five years to be nominated for Album of the Year. In 2002, The Look of Love was a #1 bestseller in the US and a seven-time platinum album in Canada. 2004ĺ─˘s The Girl in the Other Room, was her first to focus on her own songwriting ĺ─ý featuring six tunes co-written with her husband, celebrated songwriter and singer Elvis Costello. Last yearĺ─˘s Christmas Songs proved one of the seasonĺ─˘s best-sellers.

BC Scene

BC Scene will take place from April 21 to May 3, 2009. Part of a series of biennial national festivals exploring Canadaĺ─˘s cultural panorama, BC Scene will celebrate a dynamic culture that is a fusion of traditional and contemporary, East and West, and established and emerging artists.

In what will be the largest gathering of British Columbia artists ever presented outside of the province, BC Scene will feature 600 artists from disciplines as varied as music, theatre, dance, visual and media arts, literature and culinary arts in more than 30 venues around the National Capital Region. Among those in attendance for this unique showcase of B.C. artists will be more than 60 Canadian and international presenters ĺ─ý producers, buyers, or talent scouts ĺ─ý to discover B.C. talent and bring it back to their own audiences.

Partners

A multitude of public and private organizations have come together to make BC Scene a reality. BC Scene would like to thank the Government of Canada, the Government of British Columbia and Western Economic Diversification Canada for their generous support of this event.

The National Arts Centre and National Arts Centre Foundation also extend warm thank you to the B.C. Strategy Council, a group of committed individuals whose leadership, support and guidance are key to the success of BC Scene. The B.C. Strategy Council is led by Honorary Chairs Milton and Fei Wong, Chair Donald B. Rix.

The NAC Foundation also gratefully acknowledges the support of Presenting Partner Plasco Energy Group, Special Partners The Audain Foundation for the Visual Arts in British Columbia, Martha Lou Henley, Milton and Fei Wong and Dr. Donald B. Rix. Acknowledgment is also extended to Major Partner Enbridge Inc. and Supporting Partner HSBC Bank Canada, the Holiday Inn and Screen Siren Pictures. For their commitment and support of B.C. arts and artists, we give special thanks to the NAC Friends ĺ─ý B.C. BC Scene Media Partners include CBC/Radio-Canada,The National Post,Vancouver Magazine andWestern Living,The Ottawa Citizen,LeDroit, andThe Vancouver Sun.

BC Scene would also like to thank the First Peoplesĺ─˘ Heritage, Language and Culture Council for their valuable assistance.

Toronto/Ottawa ĺ─ý European jazz sensation Mystłęfy releases her album 'spark within' to the Canadian market and moves to Ottawa for the love of her life.

"With a rich voice and a piano trio behind her, Mystłęfy manages to create a soulful jazz recordĺ─Âthat sounds as if Ella Fitzgerald sat in on the sessions and helped her record a few songs" ~ Paul Zimmerman, AP News

Born in Bergisch Land' near Cologne, Germany Stephie created her jazz persona living in Bremen, Germany and singing at clubs and bars from London to Nashville and Germany, performing ad-hoc at jazz sessions and getting a wealth of positive response to her vocal skills. Yet, it was a while before Mystłęfy took her talent seriously.

Then, one evening in 2004 in a club in North London, the future revealed itself. Mystłęfy visited a club in Highgate with Ray Davies, rock legend of The Kinks. After Mystłęfy had the audience worked up to an ecstatic state by a slick performance of some Billie Holiday classics, Ray took her by the hand, looked deep into her eyes and stated dryly: "You're a star!"

Now, after receiving four and five star reviews, major features inboth Jazzpodium and Jazzthetik, Germany's top jazz magazines and air play with her videoclip for "Eye Candy" on major Music-TV in Germany Hit24 and Yavido-Clips, Mystłęfy is ready to conquer to rest of the globe as well as her new home and love in Ottawa, Canada.

Jimmy Somerville, the unmistakable, mega star singer of Bronski Beat and The Communards fame, appears as a special guest on 'spark within'. His counter tenor voice is matchless to this day. Somerville duets with Mystłęfy on "I will", a classic love song from Dean Martin's repertoire, now revamped in a highly romantic fashion. Jimmy & Mystłęfydiscovered, much to their surprise, while in the studio(there was no rehearsal prior to recording the tune) that their voices, phrasing and even vibrato harmonised in an exceptional way.

The musical aim was to create modern jazz standards, as Mystłęfy wasn't content with merely interpreting the same old compositions. She expected creativity and innovation not just from herself but also fromthe musicians who performed on this album: "Roberto DiGioia felt precisely what I wanted to express and carefully put my lyrics and melodies into a charming context of harmonies. The band and I had a wonderful chemistry going in the studio ĺ─ý and jazz thrives on spontaneity!"

Indianapolis Symphony Releases New Classical Holiday CD

INDIANAPOLIS ĺ─ý The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and Conductor Laureate Raymond Leppard announced the release of the Orchestraĺ─˘s limited edition recording of holiday classical works, English folksongs and Medieval carols that have been performed in the ISOĺ─˘s annual Classical Christmas concerts over the past ten years. The disc, which was recorded in June at the Hilbert Circle Theatre, is the tenth recording by the Orchestra under the direction of Maestro Leppard and the 39th album in the ISOĺ─˘s rich recording history that dates back to 1941. This recording was made possible through the generous support of Christel DeHaan and The Christel DeHaan Family Foundation and donors to the ISOĺ─˘s Maestro Society and Conductor Laureate Endowment Fund.

The nine works featured on this compact disc span nearly 400 years of music, from Medieval times to the early 20th century, were all orchestrated or adapted for chamber orchestral performance by Maestro Leppard, who is internationally renowned as a musician, conductor, composer, arranger, and music scholar and has earned numerous honors for his artistry, including five Grammy Awards and the esteemed Edison Prize, among others. The classical works include Sir Edward Elgarĺ─˘s A Christmas Greeting, Joachim Raffĺ─˘s Lullaby from the Octet for Strings featuring lyrics by Leppard and sung by soprano Elizabeth Futral, and Claudio Monteverdiĺ─˘s Currite populi: In Praise of St. Nicholas sung by tenor Alan Bennett.

Other traditional folksongs and Medieval carols that have been arranged by Leppard include A Childĺ─˘s Christmas by Peter Cornelius and Past Three Oĺ─˘Clock: A Sequence of Carols, both featuring Miss Futral as soloist, Percy Graingerĺ─˘s The Sussex Mummerĺ─˘s Carol that spotlights ISO Principal Horn Robert Danforth, Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day with baritone Kenneth Pereira, the Fantasia on Old Words and Tunes for Christmas with soprano Carolina Castells and mezzo-soprano Julie Grindle, and the Medieval carol Angelus ad Virginem with baritone Adam Ewing. All of the works feature the Apolloĺ─˘s Voice Chamber Chorus, who have performed in many of the annual Classical Christmas concerts over the past ten years under the direction of Jan Harrington.

Commenting on the disc, Leppard said, ĺ─˙In 1998 I created a new program for the Christmas season that was intended, in conjunction with the ISO, to complement the usual commercial holiday fare by offering perhaps a different way to consider the season. Iĺ─˘ve put together a variety of tunes that we have performed in these concerts over the past 10 years, some known and others not so well known, but all to do with Christmas and as with the gifts we give each other at this time, there may be a few delightful surprises.ĺ─¨

The ISOĺ─˘s Classical Christmas compact disc is priced at $19 each, and are on sale now by visiting the Orchestraĺ─˘s Symphony Store at any ISO concert, or by ordering on-line at www.IndianapolisSymphony.org/store. In the future, other local outlets may carry the recording, and those locations will be announced in the future.

Sunday, November 16, 2008

The Seed of Dream

"Laitman has an uncommon ability to breathe new life into a text with her music without obscuring its original essence, and she demonstrates that sensitivity here to a remarkable degree."

The Journal of Singing, 2008

New critical acclaim for a Naxos recording of American composer Lori Laitman's 'The Seed of Dream' has been published in an article by Gregory Berg in the November/December 2008 issue of The Journal of Singing. The CD, 'For a Look or a Touch,' includes works by Jake Heggie, Gerard Schwarz and Lori Laitman. All three compositions were commissioned by Music of Remembranceto commemorate the extraordinary musical and artistic gifts of musicians who perished or survived the Holocaust.

The Journal writes: "A worthy companion to Heggie's song cycle is Lori Laitman'sThe Seed of Dream, in which she sets five poems by Abraham Sutzkever, a gifted Yiddish writer who lived for years in the Jewish ghetto of Vilna, Lithuania, but who eventually managed to escape to the outside world to become a courageous member of the resistance movement in his homeland."

Berg continues with a thorough analysis of the songs and the performers: "Laitman has an uncommon ability to breathe new life into a text with her music without obscuring its original essence, and she demonstrates that sensitivity here to a remarkable degree. ...In "To My Child" Sutzkever is a heartbroken father trying to articulate the sorrow of losing his son, who was murdered by the Nazis. The text is a tortured ride through a maze of conflicting emotions and images, and Laitman's music rides the waves of those emotions without dictating their course. As the poet speaks of feeling the corpse of his child for the first time, Laitman spins out the word "cool" with a brief, subtle, yet exquisitely expressive melisma. When the text abruptly turns from sadness to anger with the words, "how can you shut your eyes, leaving me here," the music reflects that same turn, not with histrionics, but rather with quiet assurance. This is exactly what great song writing is all about.

Laitman achieves similar success in "Beneath the Whiteness of Your Stars," in which she weaves her own music with that of Lithuanian composer Abraham Brudno, who also lived in the Vilna Ghetto and, unlike the poet, did not survive. His main melodic theme, which we hear first in an instrumental interlude, comes from his own setting of this same text, and the combination of Laitman's gentle music with the more vigorous music of Brudno, is an intriguing and captivating combination...The work ends radiantly with a poem about the precious power of memory, which Sutzkever wrote after escaping the ghetto and finding refuge in the woods by Lake Narocz in the winter of 1944. "No sad songs, please," the poet requests, and Laitman sets these words with touching restraint and affection."

Baritone Erich Parce sings these songs with understanding and great care, and he has invaluable collaborators in MOR founder Mina Miller at the piano and Amos Yang on cello. These three musicians achieve remarkable magic here and these beautiful and important songs deserve nothing less." Laitman has been in touch with Abraham Sutzkever and he is very pleased with the song cycle.

Lori Laitman is represented by Jona Rapoport Artist Management.

CD Details:

Naxos 559379, 61 minutes

HEGGIE: For a Look or a Touch; SCHWARZ: In Memoriam; LAITMAN: The Seed of Dream

Friday, November 14, 2008

VSO December Concert Listings

The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra presents

a month to remember in December!

Vancouver BC ĺ─ý The month of December brings great classics and holiday music to Vancouver audiences. Kicking off the month of December is violin virtuoso and Vancouver native, Corey Cerovsek, who will perform Sibeliusĺ─˘s Violin Concerto in D minor with great young conductor Carlos Miguel Prieto.

Next up is the Classical Mystery Tour, which combines the music of the legendary Beatles with the unrivaled sounds of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. In the lead-up to the Holidays is The Magical, Musical World of Vienna featuring guest conductor Jean-Marie Zeitouni, soprano Marianne Fiset and the delightful works of Strauss, Lehar and Brahms. A concert featuring works from the Musical City itself ĺ─ý the perfect way to kick off the Holidays!

How could the holiday season be complete without the VSOĺ─˘sTraditional Christmas concerts? This year, they feature VSO Assistant Conductor Evan Mitchell and narrator Christopher Gaze. The VSO brings these fourteen performances filled with carols and heart-warming music to venues in Vancouver, Surrey, North Vancouver, West Vancouver and Burnaby. And just before the Traditional Christmas, the VSO sneaks in Tiny Tots: Holiday Hooray! For the little ones, toddlers to age four or five, this is the perfect holiday event, featuring Let Your Music Shine with Lisa and Linda, at the Playhouse Theatre in downtown Vancouver, and Terry Fox Theatre in Port Coquitlam.

Another great music tradition returns to the Chan Centre at UBC, and debuts in Massey Theatre in New Westminster: Concertmaster of the Bournemouth Symphony and chamber music specialist Duncan Riddell leads the orchestra in Vivaldiĺ─˘s timeless classic Four Seasons.

Rounding out the holiday season is the spectacularly entertaining Bugs Bunny on Broadway! That Wascally Wabbit is back in a concert that features classic Warner Bros. cartoons on a large screen while the orchestra plays the soundtracks on stage. A family favourite sure to sell out!

With Christmas just around the corner, the VSO Flex-Pass is a great gift for your loved ones. Itĺ─˘s the ultimate mix of savings and ticket buying flexibility ĺ─ý the 4-pack is just $139 and the 8-pack is $228 ĺ─ý and the perfect gift for any music lover! There is also the Symphony Sampler ĺ─ý test drive the VSO with four tickets from fifteen specially selected concerts in the spring. Another great Holiday gift idea from the VSO! Please visit the VSO website for more information www.vancouversymphony.ca

CONCERT INFO

Masterworks Diamond Series:

The Genius of Corey Cerovsek

Saturday & Monday, November 29 & December 1, 8pm, Orpheum Theatre

Carlos Miguel Prieto, conductor

Corey Cerovsek, violin

Verdi I vespri siciliani: Overture

Sibelius Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47

Bartok Concerto for Orchestra

Violin wunderkind Corey Cerovsek returns home to perform the sublime Sibelius. Bartłäkĺ─˘s Concerto for Orchestra is a rarely performed gem, and will rock the Orpheum.

The music of the Beatles like youĺ─˘ve never heard it before! Classical Mystery Tour brings together the music of one of the greatest bands of all time with the unmatchable sounds of a live symphony orchestra. Classical Mystery Tourĺ─˘s own Fab Four will transport you to the exciting heyday of rock ĺ─˛nĺ─˘ roll with thirty classic Beatles tunes played just like Paul, John, George and Ringo. Roll up for the Mystery Tour, itĺ─˘s coming to take you away!

The Lower Mainlandĺ─˘s most beloved Holiday Music Tradition! This season, the VSOĺ─˘s charismatic young Assistant Conductor Evan Mitchell leads the orchestra in a celebration of the Holiday spirit, with carols, heart-warming music traditionally associated with Christmas, and plenty of audience sing-alongs! Vancouverĺ─˘s very own Bard, Christopher Gaze, narrates.

The VSOĺ─˘s Tiny Tots Series has been endowed by a generous gift from Mary and Gordon Christopher.

Specials:

The VSOĺ─˘s Traditional Christmas

Evan Mitchell, conductor

Christopher Gaze, host

Bell Performing Arts Centre:

Sunday, December 14, 4:00pm & 7:30pm

The Lower Mainlandĺ─˘s most beloved Holiday Music Tradition! This season, the VSOĺ─˘s charismatic young Assistant Conductor Evan Mitchell leads the orchestra in a celebration of the Holiday spirit, with carols, heart-warming music traditionally associated with Christmas, and plenty of audience sing-alongs! Vancouverĺ─˘s very own Bard, Christopher Gaze, narrates.

The VSOĺ─˘s Traditional Christmas Concerts have been endowed by a generous gift from Sheanhan and Gerald McGavin, C.M., O.B.C.

Specials:

The VSOĺ─˘s Traditional Christmas

Evan Mitchell, conductor

Christopher Gaze, host

South Delta Baptist:

Wednesday, December 17, 4:00pm & 7:30pm

The Lower Mainlandĺ─˘s most beloved Holiday Music Tradition! This season, the VSOĺ─˘s charismatic young Assistant Conductor Evan Mitchell leads the orchestra in a celebration of the Holiday spirit, with carols, heart-warming music traditionally associated with Christmas, and plenty of audience sing-alongs! Vancouverĺ─˘s very own Bard, Christopher Gaze, narrates.

The VSOĺ─˘s Traditional Christmas Concerts have been endowed by a generous gift from Sheanhan and Gerald McGavin, C.M., O.B.C.

Specials:

The VSOĺ─˘s Traditional Christmas

Evan Mitchell, conductor

Christopher Gaze, host

Centennial Theatre:

Thursday, December 18, 4:00pm & 7:30pm

The Lower Mainlandĺ─˘s most beloved Holiday Music Tradition! This season, the VSOĺ─˘s charismatic young Assistant Conductor Evan Mitchell leads the orchestra in a celebration of the Holiday spirit, with carols, heart-warming music traditionally associated with Christmas, and plenty of audience sing-alongs! Vancouverĺ─˘s very own Bard, Christopher Gaze, narrates.

The VSOĺ─˘s Traditional Christmas Concerts have been endowed by a generous gift from Sheanhan and Gerald McGavin, C.M., O.B.C.

Specials:

The VSOĺ─˘s Traditional Christmas

Evan Mitchell, conductor

Christopher Gaze, host

Kay Meek Theatre

Friday, December 19, 4:00pm & 7:30pm

The Lower Mainlandĺ─˘s most beloved Holiday Music Tradition! This season, the VSOĺ─˘s charismatic young Assistant Conductor Evan Mitchell leads the orchestra in a celebration of the Holiday spirit, with carols, heart-warming music traditionally associated with Christmas, and plenty of audience sing-alongs! Vancouverĺ─˘s very own Bard, Christopher Gaze, narrates.

The VSOĺ─˘s Traditional Christmas Concerts have been endowed by a generous gift from Sheanhan and Gerald McGavin, C.M., O.B.C.

Bach & Beyond Series:

Vivaldiĺ─˘s Four Seasons

Friday & Saturday, December 19 & 20, 8pm, Chan Centre

Duncan Riddell, leader/violin

Mozart Divertimento, K.136

Mendelssohn Sinfonia No.9

Vivaldi Four Seasons

Concertmaster of the Bournemouth Symphony and chamber music specialist Duncan Riddell leads the orchestra from the violin in a performance of Vivaldiĺ─˘s timeless classic, as well as beautiful chamber works by Mozart and Mendelssohn.

Tickets available ONLY through Ticketmaster outlets, Charge-by-Phone at 604.280.3311 or online at www.ticketmaster.ca

Generously Supported By:

Radio Sponsor: 600AM

The VSOĺ─˘s Bach and Beyond Series has been endowed by a generous gift from the Chan Foundation of Canada

Vivaldiĺ─˘s Four Seasons at Massey Theatre with Duncan Riddell

Sunday, December 21, 7:30pm, Massey Theatre

Duncan Riddell, leader/violin

Mozart Divertimento, K.136

Mendelssohn Sinfonia No.9

Vivaldi Four Seasons

Concertmaster of the Bournemouth Symphony and chamber music specialist Duncan Riddell leads the orchestra from the violin in a performance of Vivaldiĺ─˘s timeless classic, as well as beautiful chamber works by Mozart and Mendelssohn.

The Lower Mainlandĺ─˘s most beloved Holiday Music Tradition! This season, the VSOĺ─˘s charismatic young Assistant Conductor Evan Mitchell leads the orchestra in a celebration of the Holiday spirit, with carols, heart-warming music traditionally associated with Christmas, and plenty of audience sing-alongs! Vancouverĺ─˘s very own Bard, Christopher Gaze, narrates.

The VSOĺ─˘s Traditional Christmas Concerts have been endowed by a generous gift from Sheanhan and Gerald McGavin, C.M., O.B.C.

Specials

Bugs Bunny on Broadway

Sunday, December 28, 2pm & 7:30pm, Orpheum Theatre

Monday, December 29, 7:30pm, Orpheum Theatre

George Daugherty, conductor

That Wascally Wabbit is back! Bugs Bunny on Broadway is a unique and sensational blend of classic Warner Bros. cartoons shown on a large screen, while the orchestra plays the soundtracks on stage. Experience these groundbreaking cartoons like youĺ─˘ve never seen or heard them before, classics such as Whatĺ─˘s Opera, Doc?, The Rabbit of Seville, Long-Haired Hare, a Corny Concerto, and so many more hare-raising cartoons. Whatĺ─˘s up, doc?!

Free family concert looks at the exciting history of the tango in Fiestango on December 7, as part of HarbourKIDS!

TORONTO, Friday, November 14, 2008 ĺ─ţ Music with Bite, Harbourfront Centre's free concert series for families presents Fiestango, an entertaining journey exploring the history of the tango by Qułębec's Amłęlie Lamontagne (violin), Genevił«ve Bigonnesse (double bass), and Janie Caron (piano). The performance takes place on Sunday, December 7, at 1 p.m., at Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay West. Music with Bite is a co-production with Jeunesses Musicales Ontario. Admission is free. For information, the public can call 416-973-4000 or visit harbourfrontcentre.com.

In Fiestango, young audiences hear the story of three mischievous cousins who receive a large trunk in the mail. Inside, they find all kinds of amazing objects, including an old diary belonging to the young and mysterious Mercedes. Just for fun, they decide to act out the story of Mercedes, who spent her life travelling with this trunk in tow, filling it with souvenirs. Immersing themselves in the narrative, the three cousins rediscover and invent their own fantastic adventures that lead them to learn about the history of the tango, a style of music and dance they adore. But a question remains unanswered: Just how did this mysterious trunk make its way into their hands?

Propelled by her musical passion, Amłęlie Lamontagne (violin) plays with a number of symphony orchestras, including Sherbrooke, Laval, Drummondville and the Francophonie Canadienne. Lamontagne also teaches at the Music School of Verdun, at St.-Maurice College and at the Lanaudił«re Music Camp. Genevił«ve Bigonnesse (double-bass) plays with Qułębec symphonies including Sherbrooke and Longueuil, and has toured with the Orchestra of Francophonie Canadienne. In addition to performing, Bigonnesse teaches at a number of schools and colleges, including Notre-Dame College and at the Lanaudił«re Music Camp. Janie Caron (piano) is an accompanist at the Canadian Institute of Vocal Arts and collaborates regularly with Jeunesses Musicales of Canada.

Music with Bite is a popular, ongoing feature of HarbourKIDS weekends. Fiestango is part of HarbourKIDS: SK8 (December 5-7), the city's coolest free skating celebration for familiesĺ─ţice skating, skateboarding and roller skatingĺ─ţwith performances, films, activities and loads of fun! (Fiestango is also part of Qułębec Now!, a Toronto-wide celebration of contemporary Qułębec arts and culture from September through December.)

Music with Bite is a refreshing experience where children can pull up a comfy cushion and sit in front of the stage for an enjoyable, interactive music performance tailored for the youngest audience members. After the concert, children can enjoy a complimentary Natrel milk beverage and cookies. Concerts take place on select Sundays at 1 p.m. Music with Bite is a co-production with Jeunesses Musicales Ontario, which is affiliated with Jeunesses Musicales of Canada, who since 1949 has dedicated its work to musical excellence and the promotion of young artists and music for young people. Jeunesses Musicales of Canada is a member of Jeunesses Musicales International.

Music with Bite is produced with the support of the Government of Canada, the City of Toronto through the Toronto Arts Council and Desjardins.

FOCUS: Pause

Harbourfront Centre wants you. to. slow. down. In a world where we are constantly bombarded with information and images, what happens when someone really takes the time to reflect? From September to May, Harbourfront Centre wants you to pause and make a connection to art, technology, the world. Find time for yourself by taking one of our Courses and Workshops; reflect while you wait for the World Stage curtain to rise; enjoy while you skate on the picturesque Natrel Rink. Harbourfront Centreĺ─ţtime well spent.

Give the Gift of Music This Year with PSO Tickets

CELEBRATE ARTISTRY FOR THE HOLIDAYS, GIVE THE GIFT OF MUSIC WITH PORTLAND SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA TICKETS

PORTLAND, Maine ĺ─ý This year, what could be a better holiday treat than the gift of art and culture? By giving the gift of the Portland Symphony Orchestra (PSO), Mainers can simultaneously support their local arts community while giving someone the pleasure of experiencing that which they might not otherwise purchase themselves this year ĺ─ý the gift of music, culture, fun and joy.

There is also still time to purchase Magic of Christmas tickets for this season. Ticket prices range from $20 to $55, with special pricing available for students and seniors. The most fun, and economical, way to see Magic is with a group of family or friends ĺ─ý groups of 10 or more receive special pricing and personalized assistance. A group sales request form can be found at www.portlandsymphony.com.

A perfect gift for the lover of opera or vocal music in your life, Renłęe Fleming is making her Maine debut February 17 at a very special Endowment Benefit Concert for the PSO. One of the great sopranos of this ĺ─ý or any ĺ─ý era, Renłęe Fleming is at the peak of her powers, and starred in the Metropolitan Opera's season opening gala this year. She will pair her most celebrated classical repertoire with folk and art songs and tunes from Broadway favorites. This is an event not to be missed, sure to delight that special person on any gift list.

For those looking for an inspired holiday gift for friends, family, coworkers or employees, there is a flexible option for PSO gift giving. The PSO is offering the FlexPass. The perfect ticket to an inspired musical experience, the FlexPass is available in increments of $75 per pair, and can be redeemed for any PSO concert in the current season. Each FlexPass voucher entitles the holder to receive one ticket to any PSO concert of their choice, making their concert-going experience "tailor-made" to their own tastes and schedule. Seating will be offered on a "best available" basis at the time the tickets are requested. Please note, restrictions may apply and seating is subject to availability, and FlexPasses are not eligible for the Renłęe Fleming Endowment Concert. Call (207) 773-6128 or email dfredette@portlandsymphony.com for purchasing information, or visit the PortTix box at 20 Myrtle Street in Portland, Monday through Saturday, 12 noon to 6 p.m.

For all PSO tickets, call PortTix at (207) 842-0800 or www.porttix.com, and new this year, the website offers real-time online seat selection. Tickets may also be purchased in person at the box office at 20 Myrtle St., Monday through Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. For complete season information, including artist biographies and program notes, visit www.portlandsymphony.com.

[TORONTO] On Friday, December 12 and Saturday, December 13, the boys' choirs of St. Michael's Choir School continue a six-decade Toronto tradition by performing their 69th annual Christmas concert at Massey Hall featuring sacred and secular choral favourites from Christmases past and present.

The boys of the Elementary Choir conducted by Teri Dunn will perform Canadian carols by Andrew Ager and David Elliot and two other works. The Junior Choir conducted by Caron Daley will begin their portion of the concert with John Rutter's arrangement of the German traditional carol In dulci jubilo along with Gounod's Ave Maria and Carols of French Canada arranged by Louis Applebaum. Of particular note, the Junior Choir will premiere First gifts, a piece commissioned in memory of Kathleen Mann (1919-2007). From 1939 until her retirement in 1984, Miss Mann taught every choir boy at the school as the Grade 6 teacher. First gifts was composed by alumnus Kola Owolabi with lyrics by award-winning author Darlene Madott.

The Senior Choir boys, ages 12 to 18, will perform works by Healey Willan, Peter Mathews, Heinrich Schł║tz and others. The Gentlemen of the Senior Choir, consisting of the Senior Choir's tenors and basses, will sing four selections including a traditional Polish carol entitled Wë§rłäd nocnej ciszy (In midnight's stillness), arranged by Jerzy Cichocki, Artistic Director of the Choir School and conductor of the Senior Choirs. These young men will also perform a holiday musical gem by Martin and Blane entitled Have yourself a merry little Christmas. The concert culminates with the Massed Choir (over 200 voices) inviting audiences to join in carols such as The First Nowell and Joy to the World. The choirs will be accompanied on piano and organ by Edward Moroney, Christopher Ku, and Yuri and Nelly Krechkovsky.

For boys and men who attended St. Michael's Choir School and audience members who have shared the Massey Hall concert experience, the piece Christmas Overture remains an enjoyable tradition. This year, the Massed Choir will premiere a new arrangement of the work originally written in 1940 by Choir School founder Monsignor John Edward Ronan. This version features brass accompaniment composed by Howard Cable and performed by one of Canada's leading quintets, True North Brass. Conductor and alumnus Brian Rae returns to the Massey Hall stage to launch this bright new version of Christmas Overture.

Founded in 1937 with the purpose of providing sacred music for services at St. Michael's Cathedral in downtown Toronto, St. Michael's Choir School is a centre for musical and academic excellence. It is one of only six choir schools in the world affiliated with the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music in Rome. Each student admitted to the Choir School is trained in vocal, technical, and instrumental music, and sings in one of the school's choirs. Prominent in music education in Toronto, the Choir School maintains high academic standards, as recognized most recently by the perfect score awarded its academic program by the Fraser Institute. For seventy years, graduates of the Choir School have pursued studies in science, education, medicine, law, business and, of course, music. In the last group are the Crew Cuts and Four Lads of the 1950s and present-day musical artists Michael Schade, John McDermott, Stewart Goodyear, Kevin Hearn (of The Barenaked Ladies), Robert Pomakov, Matt Dusk, Michael Colvin, Claude Morrison (of The Nylons), and Michael Burgess.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

NAC Orchestra receives rave reviews on Western Canada Tour

NAC Orchestra returns home in triumph from its Western Canada Tour after a series of rave reviews, standing ovations and successful education activities.

Ottawa, Ontario ĺ─ý The National Arts Centre Orchestraĺ─˘s Western Canada Tour came to a close on November 12 after taking the musicians across four provinces plus their first-ever trip to the Yukon, received multiple standing ovations and rave reviews at every concert. The ĺ─˙Performance and Education Tourĺ─¨ also included over 130 education activities in 27 different communities reaching some 9,000 children and young musicians.

ĺ─˙The National Arts Centre Orchestra spent 20 days connecting with Canadians from Victoria to Whitehorse to Winnipeg, with exhilarating results,ĺ─¨ said NAC Orchestra Managing Director Christopher Deacon. ĺ─˙Audiences cheered the music-making at concerts, and teachers and students engaged with Pinchas Zukerman, Jon Kimura Parker, Alexina Louie and our musicians in the classroom. I feel that our Orchestra has deepened its relationship with the country. More touring for all of Canadaĺ─˘s orchestras is something the cultural and educational communities should work towards.ĺ─¨

The National Arts Centre Foundation gratefully acknowledges support for the Western Canada Tour from Presenting Partner EnCana, Signature Education Partner Agrium, and the NAC Friends and Trailblazers.

The details and impressions of the Tour are available for continued enjoyment on the National Arts Centreĺ─˘s Western Canada Tour website at www.NACOTour.ca which features blogs by a variety of participants as well as extensive photographs.

Here is what the critics said:

Move to keep with tradition pays off big for orchestra: NACOĺ─˘s performance nothing less than magnificent

ĺ─˙The playing [in Mozartĺ─˘s Violin Concerto No. 3] was absolute elegance with the tenderest of phrasing, and beautifully decorative flourishes. The slow movementĺ─Âcould hardly have been improved upon. Then the NACĺ─˘s 46 players were boosted up from classical size to considerably more for Tchaikovsky [Symphony No. 5]. Zukerman and his players produced a performance that was nothing less than magnificent [ĺ─Â.] The 45 minutes flew, the feeling in the house was rapt, and at the end, there was a standing ovation: not just the usual half-assed one ĺ─ý it looked like everybody in the house. As for Alexina Louieĺ─˘s Infinite Sky with Birds, it was pleasant, deft and actually suggestive of flight.ĺ─¨

Vancouver Sun, Vancouver, B.C.

National Arts Centre Orchestra moves audience

The second movement [of Beethovenĺ─˘s Piano Concerto No. 4] allowed the piano and orchestra to work together building a sense of mystery and wonder. Farther into the piece, piano passages permitted magnificent manipulative dexterity. Building to a tremendous finish by the end of the third movement, the performersĺ─˘ enthusiastic playing was caught by the audience. [ĺ─Â]The audience acted like they didnĺ─˘t want the evening to end and many stayed for a post-concert discussion with conductor [James] Judd and pianist [Jon] Kimura Parker.

ĺ─˙The National Arts Centre Orchestra is a national treasure. How wonderful for us that Prince George was part of their Western Canada Tour. [ ĺ─Â] British born conductor James Judd is the quintessential maestro, born for the partĺ─ÂThere is no baton. Rather, heĺ─˘s like a clever magician coaxing not doves but beautiful sound from a secret place. Spellbinding. Afterwards, there was an invitation to linger and ask questions of Parker and Judd. Many did and were rewarded with candid comments and a rare insight into their lives and careers ĺ─ý and off stage personalities. [ĺ─Â] Taking time out for the audience (and students in schools) won the NAC orchestra lots of points and new fans here.ĺ─¨

Prince George Free Press, Prince George, B.C.

An orchestra heads north of 60

ĺ─˙The last time tickets for a performance at the Yukon Arts Centre were in such demand, it was for the White Stripes. The centre has no online booking facility, so fans spent the night on a Whitehorse sidewalk to nab one of the 424 tickets - which were gone in eight minutes.ĺ─¨

Globe and Mail (report on NACOĺ─˘s first Yukon visit)

Composerĺ─˘s presence delights astonished musician

ĺ─˙[Jon Kimura] Parker performed with the National Arts Centre Orchestra Wednesday evening at a sold-out Yukon Arts Centre [ĺ─Â] Parker and Louie were both in Whitehorse with the National Arts Centre Orchestra, in part to play a mid-week concert at the Yukon Arts Centre, but also to share their vast musical knowledge and experience with the next generation of classical musicians. [ĺ─Â.] ĺ─˙If you donĺ─˘t do it, itĺ─˘s a wasted opportunity,ĺ─¨ Parker said of the classes and school concerts. ĺ─˙Pinchas (Zuckerman, NACO music director) is adamant that this is a part of what we do.ĺ─¨

Whitehorse Star, Whitehorse, Yukon Territories

(report on masterclass)

Gala for a music giant

ĺ─˙The renowned violinist and music director of the National Arts Centre Orchestra [Pinchas Zukerman] brought his musicians to town last week for a benefit concert ĺ─ý raising $40,000 each for the Victoria Symphony and NAC summer programs ĺ─ý and to offer an array of masterclasses with himself and principal NAC musicians.ĺ─¨

Victoria Times Colonist, Victoria, B.C. (report on NACO visit)

Hot, crowded house savours NAC concert

ĺ─˙Sundayĺ─˘s performance by the National Arts Centre Orchestra was a rare treat indeed, the elite ensembleĺ─˘s first performance in Kamloops in its 39-year history. [ĺ─Â] A crowd-pleasing program anchored by Mozart and Beethoven, backed by Parkerĺ─˘s virtuosic delivery and the orchestraĺ─˘s exceptional polish, drew successive standing ovations.

The famed Jupiter Symphony was an ideal selection to show the orchestra at its best ĺ─ý lush and melodic, summoning all the power of the 65-member orchestras as it built to its grand finale. [ĺ─Â] Chalk this one up, easily one of the top concerts of the year in Kamloops. Other audiences took in master class performances earlier in the day featuring Parker and violinist Elaine Klimasko.ĺ─¨

Daily News, Kamloops, Kamloops B.C.

Orchestras unite in triumphant performance

Billed as ĺ─˙East Meets Westĺ─¨, the joint concert of two of Canadaĺ─˘s fine orchestras was one of the great populist events of the year. [ĺ─Â] It was the Fifth Symphony that featured both orchestras playing together, a performance led with full emotional engagement by the NACĺ─˘s Pinchas Zuckerman. This is music that temperamentally lies close to Zuckermanĺ─˘s heart, and in his shaping of the beloved melodies of this great symphony, he showed himself a master of the romantic gesture at its most expressive and opulent. With literally an army of strings at his command, not to mention the substantial woodwind and brass sections, Zuckerman had the forces to produce an overwhelming account of the symphony, the wonderful second movement transporting in its feeling, and the finale cathartic. [ĺ─Â]

Equally exciting was Jon Kimura Parkerĺ─˘s thrilling performance of the First Piano Concerto. This is a concert that perfectly suits Parkerĺ─˘s extrovert temperament and one that permits a display of his dazzling keyboard skills. [ĺ─Â]

The concert opened with a work by Canadian composer Alexina Louie entitled Infinite Sky with Birds. Like other of the composerĺ─˘s works, this is really an impressionist tone poem on the subject of birds, if musically in a modern vein. The work is well written for the orchestra and the ideas fundamentally cheerful and energetic.ĺ─¨

Calgary Herald, Calgary, AB

NAC orchestra delivers unscheduled delights

ĺ─˙Music fans were treated to a spectacular concert on Sunday night, when Canadaĺ─˘s National Arts Centre Orchestra performed at TCU Place as a benefit for the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra. Throughout the evening, the NAC Orchestra, led by renowned conductor Pinchas Zukerman, was amazing. The concert earned four - yes, four - standing ovations from the thrilled crowd, and audience members were left astounded. [ĺ─Â] I feel thankful I had the opportunity to attend such a fabulous concert. We, as Canadians, should be proud we have a touring orchestra of this calibre.ĺ─¨

Saskatoon Star-Phoenix , Saskatoon, SK

NAC orchestra pleased, no strings attached

ĺ─˙Both pianist and orchestra combined musical sensitivity with technical excellence. Parkerĺ─˘s touch on the keys was exquisitely tender during pianissimo sections, thunderously robust in the fortissimo passages, and always masterfully musical. A well-deserved standing ovation followed immediately upon the heels of the fiery and flamboyant third movementĺ─ÂOnce again [in Tchaikovskyĺ─˘s Symphony No. 5], the lush strings starred, although the fine brass and woodwind section also had opportunity to shine. Of particular note was the famous melody introduced by the French horns in the second movement, played with glorious sensitivity. [ĺ─Â] Pinchas Zuckerman, the famed conductor of the NAC Orchestra, was a joy to watch. He conducts sometimes as if heĺ─˘s shaping the orchestra like clay; sometimes as if heĺ─˘s using the musicians as pigments to paint a picture; sometimes as if theyĺ─˘re chisels heĺ─˘s using to sculpt marble. [ ĺ─Â] Unsurprisingly, the audience leaped to its feet again at the end of the symphony and put its own hands together to create the best music of all: thunderous (and well-deserved) applause.ĺ─¨

Regina Leader-Post , Regina, SK

World-class orchestra had audience hooked

ĺ─˙This world-class orchestra hooked us from the very first note they played and didnĺ─˘t let go until the last whisper of sound echoed through Centennial Concert Hall. They excel at everything they do ĺ─ý and there was not a hint of travel fatigue as they played their final concert of a 20-day Western Canada Tour. On the podium was renowned music director/ violinist/ violist Pinchas Zukerman, whose inspired musical vision was thoroughly brought to life by the musicians. The program for the evening was almost entirely Tchaikovsky and the audience was taken through an emotionally charged journey that left us almost breathless.

Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Opus 64 was poignancy itself ĺ─ý with its opening clarinet solo, played to controlled perfection by principal clarinet Kimball Sykes. Zukermanĺ─˘s interpretation brought new freshness and vibrancy to a familiar favourite. The impressive brass section held nothing back ĺ─ý and was spot on throughout. The cello section made the melody line sing, wringing every ounce of emotion from the unabashedly romantic second movement. The frothy waltz movement was appropriately light and fleet of foot, with principal bassoon Christopher Millardĺ─˘s beautiful (and seemingly breathless) solo wending its way through difficult intervals and syncopation. Zukermanĺ─˘s graceful gestures and swaying on the podium urged balletic scurrying from the violins and violas, with agile flutes following suit. [ĺ─Â]

Alexina Louieĺ─˘s fantasy-like Infinite Sky with Birds opened the concert. Using vibraphone, tubular bells, pristine flute solos and brass highlights, it summoned up a grandiose entry into a mysterious, hallowed palace.

This concert was a fundraiser for the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and a real treat for the local audience. Zukerman and the NACO gave a truly inspiring performance we wonĺ─˘t soon forget.ĺ─¨

Vancouver's own violin genius Corey Cerovsek with the VSO

The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra performs with Vancouverĺ─˘s own

violin genius Corey Cerovsek

Vancouver BC ĺ─ý The VSO is proud to present Vancouverĺ─˘s own violin genius, Corey Cerovsek, at the Orpheum Theatre on November 29th, 30thand December 1st. He will perform Sibeliusĺ─˘Violin Concerto and guest conductor Carlos Miguel Prieto will lead the orchestra in Verdiĺ─˘sI vespri siciliani: Overture and Bartokĺ─˘sConcerto for Orchestra.

ĺ─˙Cerovsek played with precision and eloquence, pure in tone and sure in motivationĺ─¨

-Los Angeles Times

ĺ─˙(Carlos Miguel) Prieto led smart, suave-sounding performancesĺ─ÂPrieto and the orchestra offered vigorous, insightful music-making right up to the end.ĺ─¨

-Houston Chronicle

Born in 1972 in Vancouver, CoreyCerovsek began playing the violin at the age of five. After early studies with Charmian Gadd and Richard Goldner he graduated at age 12 from the University of Torontoĺ─˘s Royal Conservatory of Music with a gold medal for the highest marks in strings. The word ĺ─˙geniusĺ─¨ is often bandied about by zealous marketers (sorry about thatĺ─Â), but letĺ─˘s be honest here ĺ─ý with Corey, it applies and then some: that same year, he was accepted by Josef Gingold as a student and enrolled at Indiana University, where he received Bachelors degrees in Mathematics and Music at age 15, Masters in both at 16, and completed his Doctoral course work in Mathematics and Music at age 18. Concurrently he studied piano with Enrica Cavallo, until 1997 frequently appearing in concert performing on both instruments (www.artsmg.com/cerovsek). The VSO is thrilled to welcome Corey back home, to perform the beautiful, sublime SibeliusViolin Concerto.

The performances will be led by guest conductor Carlos Miguel Prieto, one of the most exciting young conductors of our time. A graduate of Princeton and Harvard Universities, Prieto was voted ĺ─˙Conductor of the Yearĺ─¨ in 2002 by the Mexican Union of Music and Theater Critics, and in 1998 he received the Mozart Medal of Honor presented by the Government of Mexico and the Embassy of Austria (www.dispeker.com). Prieto is the music director of four symphony orchestras in his native Mexico and the United States ĺ─ý the National Symphony Orchestra of Mexico, the Orquesta Mineria, the Louisiana Philharmonic and the Huntsville Symphony in Alabama. The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra is honoured to present him in his Vancouver debut.

CONCERT INFO

Masterworks Diamond Series:

The Genius of Corey Cerovsek

Saturday & Monday, November 29 & December 1, 8pm, Orpheum Theatre

Carlos Miguel Prieto, conductor

Corey Cerovsek, violin

Verdi I vespri siciliani: Overture

Sibelius Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47

Bartok Concerto for Orchestra

Violin wunderkind Corey Cerovsek returns home to perform the sublime Sibelius. Bartłäkĺ─˘s Concerto for Orchestra is a rarely performed gem, and will rock the Orpheum.

Carlos Miguel Prieto, considered one of the most dynamic young conductors in recent years, has further widened his exposure by accepting a total of four music directorships in his native Mexico and the United States. He was named music director of the Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional de Mexico (National Symphony Orchestra of Mexico), Mexicoĺ─˘s most important orchestra, in July 2007, and remains music director at his other Mexican orchestra, the Orquesta Mineria. In the US, he completed his second season as music director of the Louisiana Philharmonic, where he leads the cultural renewal of ravaged New Orleans, and continues to serve as music director of the Huntsville Symphony (Alabama). Prieto has made guest appearances with numerous North American orchestras such as the Dallas Symphony, Houston Symphony, Phoenix Symphony, Florida Philharmonic, San Antonio Symphony, Calgary Philharmonic, Dayton Philharmonic, and every major orchestra in Mexico. He has also conducted orchestras throughout Europe, Russia, Israel, and Latin America, notably his recent Teatro Colon debut in Buenos Aires, his Netherlands Radio Orchestra debut in Utrecht, and performances with the Philharmonia of the Nations.

Prietoĺ─˘s 2008/09 season offers a slew of important debuts and re-engagements in the US. During the summer, he makes his first appearance with the Chicago Symphony and later with the Boston Symphony at the Tanglewood Festival, with Yo-Yo Ma as soloist. He also debuts with the Vancouver Symphony and Monterey Symphony, and returns to the Indianapolis Symphony, New Mexico Symphony, and Pacific Symphony.

During the 2007-08 season, Prieto was re-invited to the Milwaukee Symphony, and conducted several concerts with the Houston Symphony, Pacific Symphony, Colorado Symphony and Honolulu Symphony. In 2006-07 he gave his debut with the Milwaukee Symphony, Omaha Symphony and the symphonies of New Mexico and Nashville. He also appeared with the Dayton Philharmonic, Naples Philharmonic, and the Columbus Symphony Orchestra and returned again to the Houston Symphony and Louisville Orchestra. Overseas, Prieto made his Budapest Symphony debut at the Franz Liszt Academy in February 2007, the first time ever an all-Mexican program was performed in Hungary. Later that year he was also Mexicoĺ─˘s delegate to the Davos World Economic Forum.

The 2005-06 season highlights included appearances with the Louisiana Philharmonic (including two fundraising dates in collaboration with the New York Philharmonic), and return engagements with the Phoenix and San Antonio symphony orchestras. In the summer of 2005, Prieto made festival appearances at Grant Park in Chicago and the Naumburg concerts in New Yorkĺ─˘s Central Park. He also led the Youth Orchestra of the Americas on a tour of Brazil and guest conducted the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.

During his tenure with the Mexico City Philharmonic from 1998 to 2002, Prieto conducted over 100 concerts ranging from classical subscription to educational and popular concerts. A champion of contemporary music, Prieto has conducted over 50 world premieres of works by Mexican and American composers, many of which were commissioned by him. Exemplifying Prietoĺ─˘s commitment to education, he has conducted the Youth Orchestra of the Americas since its inception in 2002. He has performed with this enthusiastic ensemble at the United Nations and the Kennedy Center, and has toured throughout South America and Mexico.

Carlos Miguel Prieto is the founder and music director of the Mozart-Haydn Festival, an annual series of six concerts dedicated to the symphonic music of these two composers. In October 2005 he led the sixth festival in Sala Nezahualcoyotl of Mexico City.

Prieto, who is also an accomplished violinist, has been a member of the Cuarteto Prieto (a tradition of four generations) from an early age, with which he has performed in the most important halls of Mexico, in the U.S., and throughout Europe. As a violinist, he has participated in the festivals of Aspen, Tanglewood, Interlochen, San Miguel Allende, Cervantino, and has played as soloist with the National Symphony Orchestra of Mexico.

He was voted "Conductor of the Year 2002" by the Mexican Union of Music and Theater Critics, and in 1998 he received the Mozart Medal of Honor presented by the Government of Mexico and the Embassy of Austria. He has recently made a series of recordings of Latin American and Mexican music for the Urtext label.

A graduate of Princeton and Harvard Universities (where he was concertmaster of the orchestra), Prieto studied conducting with Jorge Mester, Enrique Diemecke, Charles Bruck and Michael Jinbo.

Corey Cerovsek

Corey Cerovsek has performed to constant acclaim with conductors such as Zubin Mehta, Charles Dutoit, Michael Tilson Thomas, Neeme Jłžrvi, Andrew Litton, Yoel Levi, and Jesłćs Lopez-Cobos. His North American performances have included those with the orchestras of Boston, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Detroit, Cincinnati, St. Louis, Atlanta, Baltimore, Montreal, Vancouver, and Toronto, among many others; and internationally with such groups as the Israel Philharmonic, Iceland Symphony, Prague Symphony, National Symphony (Ireland), Hong Kong Philharmonic, Residentie Orkest of the Hague, Berlin Symphony, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide Symphonies (Australia), Bournemouth Symphony, Sjaellands Symfoniorkester (Denmark), Vienna Chamber Orchestra, and the Orchestre de Poitou-Charentes and Montpellier Festival Orchestra (France). He has toured in Australia, Canada, Denmark, Japan, China, Austria, the Netherlands, Brazil and Spain.

In July of 2006, he returned to the Verbier Festival and to the Festival International de Lanaudiłęre in Joliet, Qułębec, where he performed the Bruch Scottish Fantasy with the Montreal Symphony. He also returned that season for a third year in a row to the Vancouver Symphony, where he played with and conducted the orchestra in performances of Vivaldiĺ─˘s Four Seasons. His 2007-08 season included return engagements with the orchestras of Qułębec and Calgary, and appearances with the orchestras of Providence, Santa Rosa and Brevard. In summer 2008, he performed with the Orquestra Sinfłąnica do Estado de Minas Gerais in Belo Horizonte Brazil, under the direction of Fabio Mechetti. A return to the Gardner Museum in 2007-08 included a performance with the Museum Chamber Orchestra under Douglas Boyd.

In addition to return engagements in Vancouver and Calgary, Cerovsek performs in 2008-09 with the New World Symphony in Miami, the Wichita Symphony Orchestra, the San Diego Symphony, Springfield Symphony, New West Symphony, and Fresno Symphony. Recital and chamber music performances take him to concert halls in New York, Boston and Memphis.

His recording of the complete Beethoven Violin Sonatas, made in 2006 with pianist Paavali Jumppanen for the Claves label, received numerous awards, including Gramophone Recommends, 5 Diapasons, 4 stars from Le Monde de la Musique, Supersonic Pizzicato, and Fono Forum Stern des Monats. His Corigliano Violin Sonata, with Andrew Russo on the Black Box label, was nominated for a 2006 Grammy Award. Corey Cerovsek Plays Wieniawski, made with pianist Katja Cerovsek for the Delos label, also received much critical acclaim. Other recordings have been released on the Delos, Black Box, Aguavł░ New Music Studio, and Cala Records labels.

He has been featured twice on NBCĺ─˘s Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and Jay Leno, on the David Frost Show in England, on the PBS special Musical Encounters and on CBSĺ─˘s Sunday Morning.

Born in 1972 in Vancouver, Canada, and now residing in Paris, Cerovsek began playing the violin at the age of five. After early studies with Charmian Gadd and Richard Goldner he graduated at age 12 from the University of Torontoĺ─˘s Royal Conservatory of Music with a gold medal for the highest marks in strings. That same year, he was accepted by Josef Gingold as a student and enrolled at Indiana University, where he received bachelorĺ─˘s degrees in mathematics and music at age 15, masters in both at 16, and completed his doctoral course work in mathematics and music at age 18. Concurrently he studied piano with Enrica Cavallo, until 1997 frequently appearing in concert performing on both instruments.

Corey Cerovsek performs on the ĺ─˙Milanolloĺ─¨ Stradivarius of 1728, an instrument played, among others, by Christian Ferras, Giovanni Battista Viotti, and Nicolłż Paganini.

50 YEARS OF THE BEAT: A CELEBRATION OF THE BOSSA NOVA

Toronto, Ontario ĺ─ý Fifty years ago a musical revolution arose from the beaches of Rio de Janeiro that would reshape politics, fashion and jazz music forever. That revolution was the Bossa Nova.

In honour of the golden anniversary of the Bossa Nova, JAZZ.FM91 presents 50 Years of the Beat: A Celebration of the Bossa Nova, a two hour radio documentary that reveals the hidden history of the Bossa Nova and the musicians who popularized the art form worldwide: Jołúo Gilberto, Vinłécius de Moraes, and Antłąnio Carlos Jobim.

Produced by WBGO Radio host Simon Rentner, in conjunction with JAZZ.FM91, the documentary includes interviews Rentner collected last January in Brazil with the country's top musicians, producers and scholars including Sergio Mendes, Joyce, Cesar Camargo Mariano, Benjamim Taubkin, Miłćcha, Paulo Jobim, Georgiana de Moraes, and Lułés Carlos Miłęle.

50 Years of the Beat: A Celebration of the Bossa Nova will air on JAZZ.FM91's Documentary Sunday program in two 1 hour segments on two consecutive Sundays from 4:00PM to 5:00PM ĺ─ý Sunday, November 23rd and Sunday, November 30th.

Hear rare recordings from some of the Bossa Nova's forgotten heroes: Sylvinha Telles; Johnny Alf; and Edison Machado; plus an exclusive recording of Jołúo Gilberto from the late '50s; analysis from the idiom's leading scholar Ruy Castro, and additional interviews with Bossa Nova founders Roberto Menescal and Carlos Lyra.

ABOUT JAZZ.FM91JAZZ.FM91 is Canada's Premier Jazz Radio Station, broadcasting the best in jazz music, interviews, documentaries, news, and events 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week across Southern Ontario and Western New York at FM91.1, and around the world on cable, satellite, and the Internet at www.jazz.fm. JAZZ.FM91 is an independent, listener-supported, registered Canadian charity committed to enhancing the greater jazz community through concerts, educational programs, and community partnerships.

TSO Messiah

The Toronto Symphony Orchestra presents

Toronto's Favourite MESSIAH

With an Exceptional all Canadian Cast of Young Soloists

The Toronto Symphony Orchestra presents G.F. Handel's best-loved and most famous masterpiece, MESSIAH, from December 16-21 for five performances only! As always, the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir will participate in the festivities, this year lead by their very own Conductor and Artistic Director Noel Edison. As a very special treat, the stellar cast of vocalists is entirely Canadian, and they are all making their TSO debuts! They are: soprano Gillian Keith, mezzo-soprano Allyson McHardy, tenor Frłędłęric Antoun, and bass Robert Gleadow.

In great demand for performances in recital, oratorio, and opera, soprano Gillian Keith has earned praise particularly for her interpretations of Baroque music. A frequent performer in the UK, she has appeared in principal roles with Royal Opera, Covent Garden, English National Opera, and Scottish Opera.

Mezzo-soprano Allyson McHardy has often been praised for her imagination and versatility. This superb young singer has sung all over Canada and the US, and a number of venues in Europe. She is renowned for the roles of Olga (Eugene Onegin) and Rosina (The Barber of Seville), and is another exceptional baroque interpreter.

Tenor Frłędłęric Antoun comes to the TSO hot off the heels of his critically acclaimed performances as Belmonte in Opera Atelier's The Abduction from the Seraglio. He's been called a "real findëŢ wielding a clear, keenly tuned voice with a velvety sheen" and "an ideal, earnest leading man".

Graduate of the Jette Parker Young Artists Program of the Royal Opera, Covent Garden, and the Canadian Opera Company's Ensemble Studio, young bass Robert Gleadow has sung numerous leading roles with both companies, as well as at L'Opera de la Bastille and in Santiago, Chile. In the studio, he recorded the role of Lorenzo in I Capuletti e Montecchi for Deutsche Grammophon with Anna Netrebko.

Noel Edison is currently in his 12th year as Toronto Mendelssohn Choir's Conductor and Artistic Director. He records regularly for the Naxos label and his extensive discography includes works by Arvo Płžrt; Berlioz's Requiem; the Juno nominated Mystery of Christmas; and Willan's In the Heavenly Kingdom. His latest recording with the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir is a collection of Christmas music entitled A Festival of Carols: Music for Choir, Brass & Organ.

Beethoven called Handel "the greatest composer that ever lived"; George Bernard Shaw called Handel a "sacred institution"; and King George II called him "the Shakespeare of music." He wrote MESSIAH in a mere 24 days (never once leaving his house) and it quickly became one of his most enduring and successful works. Since December 1949, MESSIAH has been a seasonal tradition at the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, spreading joy to more than 350,000 people, and having performed the piece 180 times!

Middlefield Group is a Toronto based management company that is a production sponsor for the TSO's Toronto's Favourite Messiah. Their sponsorship is adding new elements to the performance, including lighting and festive decor.

Christmas at the Cathedral with Portland's Choral Art Society, December 6 and 7

PORTLAND'S CHORAL ART SOCIETY PRESENTS CHRISTMAS AT THE CATHEDRAL, DECEMBER 6 AND 7

PORTLAND, Maine ĺ─ý For the 19th consecutive year, the Choral Art Society (CAS) will present their popular Portland holiday tradition, Christmas at the Cathedral, featuring the Choral Art Singers, the Portland Brass Quintet, and organist Dan Moore. The concerts begin Saturday, December 6 with a preview performance at noon and full concert at 8:00 p.m., and additional performances Sunday, December 7 at 2:30 and 7:00 p.m. Concerts are held at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 307 Congress Street in Portland.

From the majestic opening processional to the poignant candlelit finale, this concert is filled with stirring and exquisite seasonal music. The Choral Art Singers, joined by the Portland Brass Quintet and organist Dan Moore, will perform Vivaldi's Gloria as well as familiar seasonal music, a cappella motets, and music for chorus and brass as part of this concert celebrating the spirit of Christmas.

Christmas at the Cathedral is sponsored by Norton Insuranceand Financial, Tom's of Maine, and Sunday River. Advance tickets are $20 for standard seating and $30 for premium seating. At the door, standard seating tickets are $25.Tickets for the Saturday noon preview are $10 for adults and $5.00 for youth (under age 21), and are available only at the door. Advance tickets can be purchased at www.choralart.org or (207) 828-0043.

Other upcoming CAS holiday events include their annual CAS Messiah Sing-Along and Handel on Hunger Food Drive, Monday, December 15 at 7:30 p.m. at St. Patrick's Catholic Church. The food drive will benefit Project FEED, an emergency food pantry in Portland, and admission is $5.00 at the door (students are free). An Epiphany Celebration will be held Saturday, January 3 at 7:30 p.m. at the Immanuel Baptist Church in Portland. Visit www.choralart.org for more information.

About The Choral Art Society:The Society has more than 150 members who perform in three distinct ensembles: the symphonic Masterworks Chorus, the mid-sized Choral Art Singers, and the intimate a cappella Camerata. All singers are skilled amateurs, selected by audition. The Society offers an annual concert series and appears regularly as guests of the Portland Symphony Orchestra. Robert Russell, professor of music at the University of Southern Maine, is the conductor and artistic director of The Choral Art Society.

For more information about The Choral Art Society and the 2008-09 performances visit www.choralart.org or call (207) 828-0043.

Russell Hartenberger appointed Dean of Faculty of Music

Professor Russell Hartenberger appointed Dean of the Faculty of Music

TORONTO - The Office of the Vice-President and Provost, University of Toronto, has announced the appointment of Professor Russell Hartenberger as Dean of the Faculty of Music, effective December 1, 2008 and ending June 30, 2010.

RUSSELL HARTENBERGER is a professor of percussion. He received his PhD in World Music from Wesleyan University and has been a member of the Faculty of Music since 1974. His current research focuses on aspects of time and rhythm in music, especially in the music of minimalist composer, Steve Reich.

He is a world-class performer. He has been a member of Nexus and of the Steve Reich ensemble since 1971. He has performed with the Paul Winter Consort, Ensemble Modern of Germany, John Wyre's World Drums, Woodstock Beat, and New Music Concerts of Toronto. He has worked and/or recorded with such diverse musicians as Gil Evans, Jimmy Garrison, John Cage, John Adams, Steve Gadd, Peter Erskine, Glen Velez, Iannis Xenakis, Pablo Casals, Canadian Brass, Kronos String Quartet, Peter Serkin, Trichy Sankaran, Richard Stoltzman and Yo-Yo Ma.

Professor Hartenberger has appeared on over 70 recordings for various labels. His awards include the Toronto Arts Award in 1989, Banff Centre for the Arts National Award in 1997 and, along with the other members of Nexus, was inducted into the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame in 1999. In 2005, he received two Juno Nominations in the category of Best Classical Music Recording: Solo or Chamber Ensemble. In 2006 he was Artist in Residence for the Education Program at Carnegie Hall. His composition, Sky Ghost, was recently used for the sound track of the award winning documentary, Inside Time, by the National Film Board of Canada.

He has served in administrative roles within the Faculty as the Associate Dean, Graduate Education and as Associate Dean, Academic. As Associate Dean, Graduate Education he coordinated the Faculty's graduate enrolment expansion. He has served as Interim Dean of the Faculty since October 15, 2007.

With its illustrious past, stimulating present, and exciting future, the FACULTY OF MUSIC AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO offers an outstanding education in music. With superb educators in every area of music study, and dozens of areas of specialization in our degree and diploma programs, the Faculty of Music offers an education that is both broad and deep. Our alumni occupy leading positions in the music world, both nationally and internationally. Some of our most famous recent graduates include soprano Measha Bruggergosman, conductor Julian Kuerti, jazz pianist/composer David Braid, and composer Mychael Danna, among others.

PSO'S Magic of Christmas a True Celebration of Local Talent

IN THE SPIRIT OF THE HOLIDAYS, PSO's 2008 MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS IS A TRUE CELEBRATION OF THE DIVERSITY OF LOCAL TALENT

PORTLAND, Maine ĺ─ý For their 29th annual family holiday spectacular Magic of Christmas, the Portland Symphony Orchestra (PSO) has again brought together an exceptional collaboration of local talents making the eventa veritable "who's who" of current and past artistic performance in Maine. In the true spirit of the holidays, and now extending through three generations of New Englanders, the PSO continues to create a holiday event not to be missed. This year's shows include a Portland favorite returning conductor, two southern Maine professional ballet companies, a well-known voice from Maine public radio, southern Maine's most prolific high school choral group, and more.

Bruce Hangen returns to Maine this year from Boston to conduct Magic of Christmas. PSO's Music Director for ten seasons (1976 through 1986), Hangen conducted the first Magic of Christmas performances in 1980. Hangen is a founder of Portland's PORTopera and was its first artistic director. He is currently the Director of Orchestral Activities at the Boston Conservatory and Artistic Director of Indian Hill Music in Massachusetts. He was the principal guest conductor of the Boston Pops from 2002 to 2006, a culmination of a 30-year relationship with the Boston Pops, beginning in 1979.

"From its beginnings, Magic of Christmas has always been an exciting local artistic partnership, and this year is especially rich because of the diversity of Maine talents involved, old and new," says Hangen. "It is always a pleasure to return to Portland, and I am thrilled to be back to conduct Magic this year. I will always be connected to Portland's audiences and artistic communities, so it feels like coming home to me."

The PSO is pleased to announce that the Maine State Ballet (MSB) and the Portland Ballet Company (PBC) will be represented in the Magic of Christmas performances this year. MSB dancers will perform in the December 12-18 performances; PBC dancers in the second half of the performances, December 19-21. The dancers will perform variations from the Nutcracker.

MSB dancers:

ČůFrederick Bernier(Arabian Prince). Bernier is a resident of South Portland.

ČůGlenn Davis(Russian Cossack). Davis is a resident of Windham.

ČůLeslie Flores(Chinese Dancer). Flores is a resident of Portland.

ČůMichael Holden(Chinese Solo). Holden is a resident of Falmouth.

ČůRebecca Purser (Arabian Princess). Purser is a resident of Portland.

ČůCourtney True(Chinese Dancer). True is a full-time student at USM and a resident of Windham.

Singer, actor and broadcaster Suzanne Nance narrates Magic of Christmas this year for the first time. Audiences will recognize her voice from Maine Public Broadcasting Network (MPBN), where she serves as music director as well as producer and host of the weekday morning classical music program from 9 a.m. to noon. An opera singer, Nance has enjoyed performances on PBS and NPR as well as a guest appearance on Good Morning America, and has most recently performed onstage in Prague, London, Philadelphia, Chicago, New York and Bangor and Portland, Maine. She is a resident of Bangor.

For the first time, the PSO is pleased to welcome the Windham Chamber Singers to the collection of voices in Magic of Christmas. Directed by Dr. Richard Nickerson, the Chamber Singers consist of 37 students, all of whom are enrolled at Windham High School. Selected by audition, the Chamber Singers have traveled extensively throughout the United States, Canada and Europe; have performed the National Anthem for the Boston Celtics, Boston Red Sox, Portland SeaDogs and Portland Pirates; and made their debut at Carnegie Hall in 1998. They have appeared on CBS This Morning and the Today Show and have performed for two U.S. Presidents, including a command performance at the White House for the Congressional Ball. Each year the choir tours the Northeast, presenting assemblies and workshops at area schools in addition to holding public concerts.

This year's Magic of Christmas Chorus is a group of over 120 volunteers who are members or friends of the Portland Community Chorus. Rehearsals began in October, and most members will perform in at least ten of fourteen concerts. Every year singers come from as many as 27 communities extending from York to Brunswick and Baldwin to Otisfield. They represent a varied range of vocations including homemakers, students, nurses, educators, retirees, and executives.

Ray Cornils, Municipal Organist for the City of Portland since 1990, will perform the popular Organ Prelude on the Kotzschmar Organ one hour before each performance. Cornils is a member of the music faculty at USM where he teaches organ and harpsichord, as well as teaching at Bowdoin College and the Portland Conservatory of Music. He also serves as Music Director of First Parish Church in Brunswick where he leads an extensive choral and handbell program. Cornils is a resident of Brunswick.

Sponsored by Hannaford Supermarkets, IDEXX Laboratories, KeyBank, and Northeast Delta Dental, a total of thirteen performances will run December 12 - 21. Tickets to all shows are currently still available. Prices range from $20 to $60, with special pricing available for students and seniors. Groups of 10 or more also receive special pricing and personalized assistance.

For tickets call PortTix at (207) 842-0800 or www.porttix.com, and new this year, the website offers real-time online seat selection. Tickets may also be purchased in person at the box office at 20 Myrtle St., Monday through Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. For complete season information, including artist biographies and program notes, visit www.portlandsymphony.com.

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Full list of 2008 PSO Magic of Christmas performance dates and times:(All concerts take place at Merrill Auditorium, 20 Myrtle St., Portland, ME)

Guests from Europe

SINFONIA TORONTO PLAYS WITH 'GUESTS FROM EUROPE'

Sinfonia Toronto will present a colourful and varied program in a Masterpiece Series concert on Friday, December 12 at 8 pm. The concert will take place under the baton of guest conductor Rista Savic at Grace Church on-the-Hill (300 Lonsdale Road).

Clarinetist Darko Brlek has performed throughout Europe and around the world. He has appears in recital in Italy in Trieste, Firenze, Milan, Rome and Torino; in Austria in St. Polen, Feldkirch and Salzburg; and in Germany in Munich, Frankfurt and the Rheingau Music Festival. He has also performed in the US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Japan, Spain, France, Portugal, Belgium, Lithuania, Egypt, Yugoslavia, Bosnia, Macedonia, Turkey and Russia. He has performed as soloist with the Radio Slovenia Symphony Orchestra, Staatstheater Oldenburg, Deutsches Kammerorchester, Sinfonia Toronto, Mannheim Kammerorchester, Moscow Chamber Orchestra and Moscow Soloists, Cannes Symphony, Mexican State Symphony, Lithuanian State Symphony, Macedonian Philharmonic, Sarajevo Philharmonic and many others. He has recorded several compact discs.

Conductor Rista Savic started violin lessons at the age of four and soon showed exceptional interest and talent not only in violin and piano but also in composition and conducting. He worked with many renowned conductors as concertmaster before taking up the baton himself. In 1989 he formed the German Chamber Orchestra Frankfurt am Main. He has led the GCO on European tours and has appeared as guest conductor with the Berlin Symphony Orchestra, Archi della Scala Milano, Torino Philharmonic, Peking Philharmonic, Shenzhen Symphony, Mexican State Symphony, Sinfonia Toronto, Constance Southwest German Philharmonic, Bari Symphony, Pilsen Radio Symphony, Florence Chamber Orchestra, Virtuosi di Praga, Cluj Philharmonic Orchestra, Rio Camerata (Brazil) and many others. Since 2001 he has been Principal Guest Conductor of the Peking Philharmonic.

In addition to Weber's exciting Clarinet Quintet, the concert will feature selections from Grieg's colourful Peer Gynt Suite, Holst's St. Paul Suite as well as one of Mendelssohn's brilliant string works Sinfonia No. 10. Toronto composer Ronald Royer's Mistico will open this varied program.There will be a free post-concert reception, giving audience members a chance to meet the orchestra members, guest-conductor and soloist.

Online discount tickets are $35 adult, $27 senior, $7 student (16-29) and can be purchased at www.sinfoniatoronto.com or at regular price by phone 905-825-9477 or at the door.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Celebrate the Holidays with the VSO!

Holiday Season Concerts with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra!

Vancouver BC ĺ─ý The VSO celebrates the Holiday season like no other Arts organization in Vancouver. All sorts of festive choices await audiences in Vancouver and around the Lower Mainland. The festivities kick off with a holiday concert for toddlers and their families: Tiny Tots: Holiday Hooray features professional educators and entertainers, Let Your Music Shine with Lisa and Linda, and the beloved music of Tchaikovsky.

Next up is the Lower Mainlandĺ─˘s favourite Holiday Music Tradition, A Traditional Christmas, with VSO Assistant Conductor Evan Mitchell, host Christopher Gaze, and two great choirs: EnChor and the UBC Opera Ensemble. These concerts feature carols, sing-a-longs, and Baroque music typically associated with the Holidays. The Holiday spirit comes alive in fourteen performances that take place in six different venues across the Lower Mainland, including St. Andrewĺ─˘s Wesley Church in downtown Vancouver, and venues in Burnaby (the Traditional Christmas debut at the Michael J. Fox theatre!), South Delta, Surrey, North Vancouver and West Vancouver.

The celebrations continue with Vivaldiĺ─˘s Four Seasons, a timeless and popular classic, featuring leader/violinist Duncan Riddell, the Concertmaster of the Bournemouth Symphony. These performances take place both at the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts, and at New Westminsterĺ─˘s Massey Theatre. The wildly popular Bugs Bunny on Broadway rounds out the holiday season as a fun concert for kids and adults alike, just before the New Year. This concert features a unique blend of classic Warner Bros. cartoons shown on a large screen, while the orchestra plays the soundtracks on stage.

Enjoy Holiday cheer and great music with the VSO!

CONCERT INFO

Tiny Tots Series

Friday, Dec 12, 2008 10:00am, 11:30am, 1:30pm

Playhouse TheatreHoliday Hooray

Let Your Music Shine with Lisa and Linda, entertainers

Saturday, Dec 13, 2008 10:00am, 11:30am

Terry Fox TheatreHoliday Hooray

Let Your Music Shine with Lisa and Linda, entertainers

Featuring the Music of Tchaikovsky. Move-along with the Nutcracker and sing-a-long to frosty favourites.

The VSOĺ─˘s Tiny Tots Series has been endowed by a generous gift from Mary and Gordon Christopher.

Specials

The VSOĺ─˘s Traditional Christmas

Evan Mitchell, conductor

Christopher Gaze, host

UBC Opera Ensemble, choir

EnChor, choir

St. Andrewĺ─˘s Wesley:

Thursday, December 11, 7:30pm

Friday, December 12, 7:30pm

Saturday, December 13, 4:00pm & 7:30pm

Bell Performing Arts Centre, Surrey:

Sunday, December 14, 4:00pm & 7:30pm

South Delta Baptist Church, South Delta:

Wednesday, December 17, 4:00pm & 7:30pm

Centennial Theatre, North Vancouver:

Thursday, December 18, 4:00pm & 7:30

Kay Meek Theatre, West Vancouver

Friday, December 19, 4:00pm & 7:30pm

Michael J. Fox Theatre, Burnaby

Sunday, December 21, 4:00pm & 7:30pm

The Lower Mainlandĺ─˘s most beloved Holiday Music Tradition! This season, the VSOĺ─˘s charismatic young Assistant Conductor Evan Mitchell leads the orchestra in a celebration of the Holiday spirit, with carols, heart-warming music traditionally associated with Christmas, and plenty of audience sing-alongs! Vancouverĺ─˘s very own Bard, Christopher Gaze, narrates.

The VSOĺ─˘s Traditional Christmas Concerts have been endowed by a generous gift from Sheanhan and Gerald McGavin, C.M., O.B.C.

Bach & Beyond Series & Specials:

Vivaldiĺ─˘s Four Seasons

Friday & Saturday, December 19 & 20, 8pm, Chan Centre

Sunday, December 21, 7:30pm, Massey Theatre

Duncan Riddell, leader/violin

Mozart Divertimento, K.136

Mendelssohn Sinfonia No.9

Vivaldi Four Seasons

Concertmaster of the Bournemouth Symphony and chamber music specialist Duncan Riddell leads the orchestra from the violin in a performance of Vivaldiĺ─˘s timeless classic, as well as beautiful chamber works by Mozart and Mendelssohn.

Tickets available ONLY through Ticketmaster outlets, Charge-by-Phone at 604.280.3311 or online at www.ticketmaster.ca

Generously Supported By:

Radio Sponsor: 600AM

The VSOĺ─˘s Bach and Beyond Series has been endowed by a generous gift from the Chan Foundation of Canada

Specials

Bugs Bunny on Broadway

Sunday, December 28, 2pm & 7:30pm, Orpheum Theatre

Monday, December 29, 7:30pm, Orpheum Theatre

George Daugherty, conductor

That Wascally Wabbit is back! Bugs Bunny on Broadway is a unique and sensational blend of classic Warner Bros. cartoons shown on a large screen, while the orchestra plays the soundtracks on stage. Experience these groundbreaking cartoons like youĺ─˘ve never seen or heard them before, classics such as Whatĺ─˘s Opera, Doc?, The Rabbit of Seville, Long-Haired Hare, a Corny Concerto, and so many more hare-raising cartoons. Whatĺ─˘s up, doc?!

Tickets available by phone at 416.872.4255 or online at www.roythomson.com

For more information call 416.979.9901 or visit www.ashkenazfestival.com

Ashkenaz Foundation is thrilled to present the legendary Flory Jagoda in her first Toronto appearance in over a decade. Her music is a unique amalgam of Jewish, Spanish, North African, and Balkan influences, sung in Ladino, the ancient Judeo-Spanish language. Flory Jagoda's live performances feature authentic Sephardic songs and her own original compositions, woven together with compelling tales about the music and the lost Sephardic world of Sarajevo. Among the last surviving matriarchs of one of Judaism's rarest and richest cultural traditions, Flory Jagoda is a unique treasure.

Following the 15th century Spanish Inquisition, Sephardic Jews fleeing violent persecution and forced conversion in Spain, re-settled in Mediterranean countries where they preserved their unique traditions and their Ladino language while blending in the musical flavours and rhythms of their adopted countries. Into this rich heritage, Flory Jagoda was born in Sarajevo, Bosnia, where her mother's family, the Altaras Family, were well-known singers and musicians for generations since their expulsion from Spain.

Flory Jagoda was among few in her family to survive the tragic obliteration of Sarajevo's Jewish community in the Holocaust, following which she emigrated to the US in 1946. For the last six decades she has made it her personal mission to keep alive the rich Ladino musical tradition of Bosnia's Jews, earning her the moniker "Keeper of the Flame." Now in her 80's and residing in Washington, DC, Flory Jagoda continues to perform and is known world-wide as one of the few authentic performers of Ladino music. Though in danger of extinction, Ladino music has recently experienced a minor revival, in no small part due to Flory Jagoda's tireless stewardship. In 2002 she was honoured with a National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts for her contribution to preserving a traditional art form.

The December 6th performance will include a number of seasonal songs, including Flory Jagoda's own world-famous Hanukah anthem "Ocho Kandelikos" (Eight Candles). The show will be recorded by CBC Radio Two's "Canada Live" for future broadcast. In addition to Flory Jagoda on vocals and guitar, she will be joined by her longtime accompanist Howard Bass (guitar), her apprentice Susan Gaeta (guitar, vocals), and three members of Toronto's renowned Jewish/Balkan fusion group Beyond the Pale, including Ashkenaz Artistic Director Eric Stein (mandolin), and the Serbian-born pair of Aleksandar Gajic (violin) and Milos Popovic (accordion).

The Ashkenaz Foundation is a community-based non-profit organization dedicated to fostering an increased awareness of Jewish culture through the arts. With its biennial festival and an expanding slate of year-round programming, Ashkenaz showcases the work of leading contemporary artists from Canada and around the world working in all artistic disciplines. In its most recent festival (August 2008 at Harbourfront Centre) and ongoing plans, Ashkenaz has continued to broaden its programming mandate, with a particular effort to present more Sephardic and pan-Jewish programming.

ASHKENAZ FOUNDATION PRESENTS

Ladino Music Legend

FLORY JAGODA

"Judeo-Spanish Songs From Bosnia"

Saturday, December 6, 2008, 8pm

Glenn Gould Studio, CBC Centre, 250 Front St. West, Toronto

Tickets $20 in advance, $25 day-of show

Tickets available by phone at 416.872.4255 or online at www.roythomson.com

For more information call 416.979.9901 or visit www.ashkenazfestival.com

December events at the RCM

The Royal Concert Season 08.09

Warm up December with Spectacular Performances!

December at The Royal Conservatory (RCM) is filled with very special events, most of them free to the public, as The RCM continues to enjoy its return to Bloor Street and its newly refurbished TELUS Centre for Performance and Learning.

Legendary American pianist and conductor, Leon Fleisher, opens the first week of December with Fleisher Master Class Week from December 2 to December 5, during which he will give five master classes. The Master Classes are free and open to the public, a wonderful way to see a great artist at work! As well, Mr. Fleisher will give a very special concert on December 3, as part of the Great Artists Series. During the concert on Wednesday, (his first solo Toronto performance in over six years), Fleisher will perform a first half of solo piano repertoire. The second part of the concert will be comprised of Brahms' Piano Quintet in f minor, for which he will be joined by members of ARC (Artists of The Royal Conservatory) Erika Raum and Marie Błęrard (violins), Steven Dann (viola), and Bryan Epperson (cello).

Great Artists Series will continue on Friday, December 12, with the renowned violinist and pedagogue Paul Kantor and his wife, Virginia Weckstrom (piano), both of whom joined the faculty of The Glenn Gould School of The Royal Conservatory in September of this year. They will be joined by two ARC members, Bryan Epperson (cello) and Joaquin Valdepeł▒as (clarinet), in an array of chamber music repertoire.

Firmly rooted in the soil of their native land, the energetic and traditional Qułębłęcois folk 'power trio', Genticorum, incorporates the dynamism of today's North American and European folk cultures in their music. They have performed in more than 15 countries all over the world, and on Thursday, December 11, they will appear as part of the World Music Concerts at The RCM.

Internationally renowned pianist and Beethoven interpreter Anton Kuerti returns to The RCM for the second of his 5-part lecture series, devoted to the Second Beethoven Piano Concerto, on Friday, December 12. Another wonderful free event will be the Saturday, December 6, concert by the Academy Symphony Orchestra, lead by conductor and artistic director, David Visentin.

A very special event will round out the December performances at The RCM - the world premiere of Dean Burry's opera, Pandora's Locker. This is the first major operatic commission by The Glenn Gould School, written specifically for a high school audience. Inspired by the Greek myth of Pandora's Box, in which a young woman's curiosity leads to the unleashing of all the world's evils, it is a simple, archetypal myth, which reflects humankind's own hunt for knowledge and the potential for disaster upon its discovery. Through the use of themes such as gender issues, sexuality, and gun violence, set to a musical ensemble including modern "urban music scratch electronica", the opera places the Pandora myth within a contemporary, inner-city high school setting. Performances on December 5, 11, and 13, will be conduced by Brian Current and directed by Jennifer Parr.

National Arts Centre releases 2008-2013 Strategic Plan

National Arts Centre releases 2008-2013 Strategic Plan

Ottawa (Canada) ĺ─ý The National Arts Centre (NAC) today released its new Strategic Plan which sets out the vision that will guide it over the next five years. The Plan, called ĺ─˙Performing for Canadiansĺ─¨, will help the NAC fulfill its role as a national centre for performance, creation and learning.

The Plan focuses on five clear goals: artistic excellence and innovation; enhancing the NACĺ─˘s national role; expanding its arts education activities; significantly increasing earned revenue; and developing a more customer-oriented internal culture.

ĺ─˙The NAC has a broad mandate, with many audiences to reach successfully,ĺ─¨ said Julia Foster, Chair of the National Arts Centre's Board of Trustees. ĺ─˛Performing for Canadiansĺ─˘ provides us with a clear road map. We are proud of the work that has gone into the development of this plan, reflecting the voices of Canadians from all parts of the country.ĺ─¨

The Strategic Plan is the result of extensive consultations over the last year with hundreds of artists, arts organizations, arts educators and public funders in communities all across Canada.

ĺ─˙This dialogue with these stakeholders provided the NAC with tremendously useful feedback, and helped to shape our strategic plan,ĺ─¨ said Peter Herrndorf, President and CEO of the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. ĺ─˙While weĺ─˘ve made a lot of progress over the past few years, the NAC still has a lot more work to do to achieve our dream of becoming a truly national performing arts organization.ĺ─¨

Copies of the Strategic Plan are available on the NAC website at www.nac-cna.ca.

Creator's Reserve - 2009

4th Line participates in OAC Reserve program

4th Line Theatre is pleased to once again announce its participation in the 2008 Ontario Arts Councilĺ─˘s Theatre Creatorsĺ─˘ Reserve Program, a third-party recommender program of grants to theatre creators.

The Ontario Arts Council (OAC) is the province of Ontarioĺ─˘s primary funding body for professional arts activity. Since 1963, OAC has played a vital role in promoting and assisting the development of the arts and artists for the enjoyment and benefit of Ontarians.

Ontario-based professional theatre artists and artistsĺ─˘ collectives are eligible to apply to 4th Line by the closing date of January 19, 2009, for funding to develop new work. Application forms are available via Ontario Arts Council by calling 1-800-387-0058 or by visiting www.arts.on.ca

Completed forms must be sent to 4th Line Theatre, accompanied by a description of the project proposed, the artistĺ─˘s resume and a sample of past work. The applications will be reviewed by Artistic Director, Robert Winslow and the companyĺ─˘s Artistic Associates.

Funding decisions will be based on the artistic interest of the project, the quality of writing samples, and the impact of the program on the artistĺ─˘s development.A positive funding decision will then be forwarded by 4th Line to the Ontario Arts Council for final recommendation.

The minimum funding request for this program is $1,000 with the maximum of $5,000. Grant amounts will be determined by the number of approved applicants and the funds available from the Creatorĺ─˘s Reserve.

4th Line will administer the granting program with the primary goal of supporting as many worthy regional playwrighting projects as possible. As a secondary priority, the theatre company will also be looking for projects that align with its artistic mandate: to preserve our Canadian cultural heritage through the development and presentation of regionally based, environmentally staged historical dramas.

For more information on 4th Lineĺ─˘s involvement with the program please contact Patricia Thorne at patricia@4thlinetheatre.on.ca or (705) 932-4448. Applications should be mailed to 4th Line Theatre, Old Millbrook School, 1 Dufferin Street, Millbrook, ON, L0A 1G0.

AFM Disappointed With FCC Decision to Allow "White Space" Devices

That Our Members' and Creative Partners' Wireless Microphone Use is Protected

The American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada (AFM) is disappointed by the Federal Communications Commission's recent decision to open the television "white spaces" - the frequencies in between television stations - for use by unlicensed, mobile Internet devices. The final order has not yet been released, however, it is reported that the decision relies on unproven, unreliable technology to ensure that these devices do not interfere with wireless microphones.

The AFM recognizes the potential of these new devices to bring broadband Internet access to millions of Americans. Yet, the Commission has opened the door to these devices prior to proving that they will not adversely affect the wireless microphones that Broadway theaters, symphony performances, live concerts and others depend on to deliver the highest-quality audience experience.

The AFM hopes that when the order is finally reviewed and the rules for manufacturing "white space" devices are written, the needs of wireless microphone users are taken into serious consideration. AFM will continue to work with the Commission and others in the creative community to ensure that the AFM's needs are adequately met.

ABOUT THE AFM

Founded in 1896, the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada (AFM), AFL-CIO, is the largest organization in the world dedicated to representing the interests of professional musicians. With more than 90,000 members, the AFM represents all types of professional musicians, including those who record music for sound recordings, film scores, radio, television and commercial announcements, as well as perform music of every genre in every sort of venue from small jazz clubs to symphony orchestra halls to major stadiums. Whether negotiating fair agreements, protecting ownership of recorded music, securing benefits such as health care and pension, or lobbying legislators, the AFM is committed to raising industry standards and placing the professional musician in the foreground of the cultural landscape. www.afm.org

DudamelGothneburg

Dudamel continues with Gothenburg!

Our Music Director Gustavo Dudamel is one of the world's most sought-after conductors. Prestigious orchestras and concert halls pull him from all sides. But during the recently concluded tour, it became clear - Gustavo Dudamel chooses to extend his contract and stay in Gothenburg.Gustavo Dudamel and the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra have just come back from a two-week tour in Europe with sold out concerts, standing ovations and praise in the press. During the tour, the welcome announcement was made that Gustavo Dudamel extends his contract and remains as Music Director up until the season 2010/2011 with an option to be taken annually for further extension thereafter.

Dudamel explained his personal attachment to the orchestra and their very special way of music making. "They're an amazing group of players and we are growing together - I want to continue being a part of this tradition for years to come".

The first time Dudamel met the orchestra in 2005 produced an instant chemistry and, over the past few years, there has developed a mutual joy to work and collaborate. The two-week, sold out tour in Europe enjoyed standing ovations and extensive praise in the press. Stops in Germany, Luxembourg, Austria and Spain with repertoire including Berliozĺ─˘ Symphonie Fantastique, Beethoven's Symphony No. 2, Straussĺ─˘ Ein Heldenleben and Sibeliusĺ─˘ Violin Concerto with the young star violinist Sergey Khachatryan as the soloist received an enthusiastic response from the audiences. Around 15,000 visitors heard the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra during the tour and several encores became a regular feature of each concert.

Chief Executive Edward Smith said ĺ─˙The extension is a huge expression of confidence in the GSO and we are all delighted that what started three years ago as a "substitute" occasion has developed into one of the most fulfilling musical marriages which continues to develop"

For more information about Gustavo Dudamel and the tour, contact CEO Edward Smith on telephone +46 31 726 53 04.

Friday, November 7, 2008

Press Release re CBC Radio 2 and CBC Radio Orchestra

A RADIO ORCHESTRA, AND RADIO 2 GETS WORSE

StandonGuardforCBC Coalition-Statement

On November 16, 2008, Canadians say "good-bye" to their CBC Radio Orchestra.In its 70 years, the Orchestra gave thousands of broadcasts, commissionedover 100 Canadian composers, offered first-rate performances of the bestmusic in the world, and introduced dozens of winners from the CBC YoungPerformers and Young Composers Competitions.

StandonGuardforCBC, a national Coalition of more than 25,000 citizens, hasworked since March 27, 2008 to reverse the CBC decision to close the CBCRadio Orchestra, and to recover excellence in Radio 2 programming.

We have learned from Alain Trudel, conductor of the Radio Orchestra, that anew privately funded National Broadcast Orchestra (NBO) will succeed the CBCRadio Orchestra.

The Coalition understands why M. Trudel and the musicians of the CBC RadioOrchestra are taking this step. The CBC has forced them into it.

The NBO has the help of private and public bodies, and will need much morehelp in coming months. It will be a hard job to do what the Orchestra coulddo within the CBC. The Coalition notes that the NBO will maintain themission of the CBC Radio Orchestra, and continue it through education, theinternet, and broadcasting.

The Coalition regrets deeply that the CBC has chosen to end its commitmentto the Orchestra, and with it, to give up a way of making Canadian culture.

The Coalition has decided to go on with the fight to bring back excellencein music programming on Radio 2. It will push for a CBC orchestra, publiclyfunded, and accessible to all Canadians.

Our mandate remains: Restore the CBC Radio Orchestra within a RevitalizedCBC.

Magnus Lindberg is one of Finland's leading international contemporary composers. His music is characterized by energy, color and a thrilling density of material, and the works recorded here ĺ─ýSculpture (2005), Compana in aria(1998), and Concerto for Orchestra (2003) ĺ─ý are entrancing examples. This disc follows the great success of his Clarinet Concerto recording, which was named best contemporary / premił«re recording both at the Gramophone Awards and the BBC Music Magazine Awards 2006 (ODE 1038-2). Like this disc, it also featured conductor Sakari Oramo and the Finnish RSO. Sculpture was premiered by the Los Angeles Philharmonic conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen in 2005. The score is dedicated to Frank Gehry, architect of Disney Hall, and Lindberg's music explores the sonic spaces of that concert venue. The Los Angeles Times reported, "The score is sophisticated yet immediately engrossing. . . The instrumental texture is often fast-moving and complex. . . In the middle, Sculpture turns into a miniature concerto for orchestra, focusing on different instrumental sections competing to be the most dazzling. At the end the organ came rumbling in, lingering 'Zarathustra'-like in its low register. Tubas and other brass instruments took positions around the hall . . . The piece climaxes with rousing Stravinskyan rhythms . . . he orchestral writing is that of a master." Lindberg's Concerto for Orchestra was commissioned by the BBC Symphony Orchestra in 2003, and the premiere was conducted by Jukka-Pekka Saraste. The 30-minute piece spotlights instruments and groups of intruments within the orchestra, and is cast in five continuous movements. A fast and brilliant opening section is followed by a darkly coloured slow movement, then a third section strips the orchestra back to chamber music formations, leading to a scherzo and a summatory finale.

This 5-CD boxed set features six vocal stars in a collection of the most popular opera scenes and arias. CD 1 focuses on the star baritone Jorma Hynninen with a NA recording from 1989, the period that saw his international career rocket after he conquered the opera houses of New York, Chicago and San Francisco. CD 2 features the outstanding lyric soprano Soile Isokoski in what was hailed by the press in 2004 as "one of the best albums available of Mozart arias." CD 3 contains the dłębut album of highly acclaimed young baritone Tommi Hakala, which he recorded shortly after winning the BBC 'Singer of the World' contest in 2003. He has since dłębuted in San Francisco and at the Metropolitan Opera, in some of the roles featured on this disc. Mezzo-soprano Elina Garanca's dłębut recording (CD 4) was released in 2001 by Ondine before she became the international superstar of today. Bass-baritone Juha Uusitalo joined Ondine's roster in 2008 with an acclaimed Wagner album, of which CD 5 features three excerpts. Completing the disc, and as a culmination of this opera gala box, star soprano Karita Mattila performs, among other arias, Vissi d'arte from Tosca, in a live recording of a concert in 2000 attended by 11,000 people in Helsinki.

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Recent Ondine releases ĺ─Â

Einojuhani Rautavaara: Works for Male Choir

YL Male Voice Choir, Talla Ensemble

Matti HyłĆkki and Pasi HyłĆkki, conductors

ODE 1125-2D (2CDs)

Release date: October 14, 2008

Ondine pays tribute to its most longstanding and successful house composer, Einojuhani Rautavaara, with three major CD releases in 2008 and 2009. For the 80th birthday of the great composer in October, Ondine will release a 2-CD recording of his complete works for male voice choir, including many premiere recordings. The release features the YL Male Voice Choir and Talla Ensemble led by their respective conductors Matti HyłĆkki and Pasi HyłĆkki.

In March 2008, Ondine released a new recording of Rautavaara's Manhattan Trilogy, coupled with his Third Symphony, by Leif Segerstam and the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra. Gramophone recommended the disc, writing, "Superbly recorded coupling of the new with the old from the Finnish master."

In 2009, Ondine will release the premiere recording of Rautavaara's latest orchestral composition, A Tapestry of Life (2007), coupled with Before the Icons (2005), performed by the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra under Leif Segerstam. The new work will be given its Finnish premiere performance during a celebratory concert on October 9, 2008, with Olli Mustonen conducting the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra.

Einojuhani Rautavaara (born October 9, 1928) was hailed by The New York Times as "the patriarch of contemporary Finnish composers." Ondine has had a long and fruitful association with this iconic composer, having recorded the premieres of many of his works and garnering many awards along the way, including a Cannes Classical Award 1998 for his Violin Concerto and a Grammy nomination in 1997 for Angel of Light, his seventh symphony.

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SOILE ISOKOSKI

Scene d'amore

Helsinki Philharmonic, Mikko Franck, conductor

ODE 1126-2

Release date: October 14, 2008

Audiences and critics hail the Finnish soprano Soile Isokoski as one of the finest singers today. Her recent orchestral albums on Ondine (Sibelius's Luonnotar and orchestral songs; Mozart Arias; R. Strauss's Four Last Songs and other orchestral songs) have been praised as top-choice recordings and earned the highest distinctions such as the BBC Music Magazine Disc of the Year 2007 Award, a 2007 MIDEM Classical Award, and a 2002 Gramophone Award. The Guardian has proclaimed, "Her voice is one of the greatest in the world."

This disc features popular scenes and arias from the late-19th century Italian, French and Russian opera marking Soile Isokoski's greatest successes on stage. Included is the famous aria "SłĘ. Mi chiamano MimłĘ" from Puccini's La Bohł«me (the role of MimłĘ marked Soile Isokoski's opera dłębut in 1989), as well as the famous Letter scene from Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin ĺ─ý Tatyana being her latest new role, which she sang in 2006 at the Finnish National Opera to international acclaim.

Soile Isokoski is accompanied by the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of young star conductor Mikko Franck.

Ms. Isokoski performs a recital at Carnegie Hall's Zankel Hall on March 31, with pianist Marita Viitasalo.She appears as Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni at The Metropolitan Opera from April 13-24, 2009.

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KAIJA SAARIAHO

Notes on Light, Orion Mirage

Karita Mattila, Anssi Karttunen

Orchestra de Paris, Christoph Eschenbach

ODE 1130-2

Release date: September 9, 2008

Soprano Karita Mattila and female composer Kaija Saariaho share not only popular star status in the classical musical world (with respective awards by Musical America as Musician of the Year 2005 and as Composer of the Year 2008), but also a fruitful musical collaboration and friendship. Its latest output ĺ─ý after the acclaimed song cycle Quatre Instants in 2006 ĺ─ý is Mirage, the setting of a trance-induced incantation text by the Mexican healer Marłéa Sabina (1894ĺ─ý1985). This recording features the work's world premił«re performance in Paris, France on March 13, 2008.

The ecstatic 15-minute piece is written for the unprecedented combination of soprano, cello and orchestra, featuring cellist Anssi Karttunen and the Orchestre de Paris under its music director Christoph Eschenbach. Mr. Eschenbach ĺ─ý who for the Ondine label also records with The Philadelphia Orchestra ĺ─ý is known as one of the top champions of contemporary music among the world's leading conductors. The disc also includes Anssi Karttunen performing Notes on Light, a cello concerto Saariaho wrote for him in 2006 and which he gave its New York premiere during the 2008 Lincoln Center Mostly Mozart Festival; and Orion, the largest orchestral work Saariaho has written to date.

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JUHA UUSITALO

The Wagner Album

Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Leif Segerstam

ODE 1121-2

Release date: September 23, 2008

Bass-baritone Juha Uusitalo's first aria album features the outstanding Finnish newcomer performing the best-known arias for male voice from Wagner's operas, including "Song to the Evening Star" ("O du, mein holder Abendstern") from Tannhłžuser. Juha Uusitalo is accompanied by the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of its Emeritus Chief Conductor Leif Segerstam.

The September 23 release date coincided with the opening night performance by Mr. Uusitalo, in his Metropolitan Opera debut as Jochanaan in Richard Strauss's Salome. Salome also features Ondine soprano Karita Mattila. The production runs through October 16, 2008, and the October 11, 1 pm ET performance will be broadcast in high definition at movie theaters around the world, as part of The Metropolitan Opera Live in HD series.

On October 30, 31 and November 1, 2008 Juha Uusitalo will perform an all-Wagner program with the National Symphony Orchestra, led by Ivł░n Fischer, at the KennedyCenter in WashingtonDC. Under the direction of Franz Welser-Moest, he will star in the complete Ring cycle in May and June 2009 at the Vienna Staatsoper.

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About Ondine: Ondine was founded more than twenty years ago in Helsinki, Finland, where the company is still based and today offers an extremely eclectic catalogue of both contemporary Finnish music, as well as recordings with major Finnish and international artists.

Ondine's extensive catalogue includes more than four hundred recordings (two hundred and fifty of which are available physically) of artists and ensembles such as conductor and pianist Christoph Eschenbach, conductors Vladimir Ashkenazy, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Sakari Oramo, Leif Segerstam, John StorgłÇrds and Mikko Franck, orchestras such as The Philadelphia Orchestra, the Orchestre de Paris, the London Sinfonietta, the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Czech Philharmonic, the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Helsinki Philharmonic, sopranos Karita Mattila and Soile Isokoski, pianist Olli Mustonen, violinist Pekka Kuusisto and clarinettist Kari Kriikku.The label has also had a long and fruitful association with the Finnish composer Einojuhani Rautavaara, having recorded the premieres of many of his works and garnering many awards along the way.

The roots of Ondine date back to 1985 when founder Reijo Kiilunen released the very first Ondine album under the auspices of the renowned Finnish Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival.The label's initial mission was to produce one live album at the Festival each season.The fourth album, however, featured Einojuhani Rautavaara's opera Thomas (ODE 704-2), raising major international attention and opening up the possibility for North American distribution.Kiilunen, who was running the Festival's concert agency and had begun the recording activity part-time, soon decided to devote himself fully to the development of this new business, producing and editing the first 50 releases himself. In 1991, Seppo Siirala joined as producer, and the Helsinki-based company has been expanding steadily since, currently numbering six full-time employees.Today, Ondine continues to uphold its reputation as one of the most respected labels in classical music, and its products have received numerous prizes at the Cannes (MIDEM) Classical Awards, the Gramophone Awards, the BBC Music Magazine Awards and the Classical Internet Awards.

Universal Music Classical and Ondine entered into a distribution agreement that began on January 1, 2008.Both physical and digital distribution in the United States and Canada are covered under the agreement.Universal Music Classical comprises the Decca, Deutsche Grammophon, Philips, and ECM labels and is a division of the Universal Music Group. For more information about Ondine, visit www.ondine.net.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Calling All Canadian Artists: JunoFest wants to put YOU on stage

Be part of the JUNO Awards Weekend's twoĺ─ýnight music showcase,March 27 & 28 in Vancouver, BC

Submissions open Monday, November 10

WHAT:

JunoFest is a two-night music extravaganza that showcases the talents of over 100 local, regional and national artists representing the diverse spectrum of Canadian music.

Nearly half of the participating line-up will be chosen locally to highlight Vancouver's rich and diverse music scene, in addition to performances from 2009 JUNO Award nominees and some of Canada's national touring acts.

WHEN:

As part of the 2009 JUNO Awards weekend, JunoFest will take place at various venues in downtown Vancouver on Friday, March 27 and Saturday, March 28 each night from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.

HOW:

Artists and bands interested in participating in this year's JunoFest can apply online through Sonic Bids at www.sonicbids.com/junofest09, starting Monday, November 10, 2008.

The deadline for submissions is Friday, December 12, 2008 at 5 p.m. (PST). A $10 application fee will apply. All applicants must be Canadian residents and 19 years of age or over.

We thank all applicants who respond, but only those selected will be contacted.

About JunoFest: 2009 marks the eight year anniversary of JunoFest since its inception in St. John's, Newfoundland in 2002. As a means to promote and celebrate Canadian music, JunoFest has showcased to-date almost 1,000 artists and bands of all backgrounds and genres. JunoFest '09 will be produced by Vancouver-based Donnelly & Associates Event Marketing Inc., a leading independent producer of special events, music festivals and national promotions.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Array Ensemble At EMPAC

Canada's Acclaimed Array Ensemble To Perform At EMPAC

With a reputation for being a "music machine that prevails and breathes life into a performance" and praise for playing with 'enviable precision', 'sophistication' and 'absolute accomplishment,' Canada's Array Ensemble wears its mantle of being "a model for all musicians - contemporary or not" comfortably. And, so it should.

After 37-years of securing appreciative reviews, responsive audiences, government grants and over 300 commissions of new works written for its group by in-demand composers hailing from the world over, Array's musicians face just one really vexing challenge -- how to get beyond its Toronto home base to again strut its stuff on the international stage?

With this Saturday's concert (November 8th, 8PM) at the remarkable new EMPAC (Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center) building in Troy, New York, The Array Ensemble embarks on a renewed period of activity that intends to see the group more in demand and traveling.

"This past season, The Array Ensemble received a major grant from a top foundation, The Metcalf Foundation, to do something we rarely can... rehearse, rehearse and then rehearse some more," says Array's artistic director Bob Stevenson. "Tight budgets typically mean that we have to shine on our own dime to some extent, but with this grant we're now in a position to prepare three concert programs of 'core repertoire' that we will cull from Array's extensive library to sell to new presenters. EMPAC is the first to present Array's ensemble under this new innovative program and we couldn't be happier."

Array's general manager, Sandra Bell, says expanding the organization's (primarily) self-presented home-based concert model was inspired by the U.S. new music group Eighth Blackbird, known for re-performing programs until they are practically embedded in memory and performing for many different presenters, particularly on the festival circuit.

"Hiring Array's Ensemble just came into reach for many new concert presenters because we've significantly lowered the cost of hiring our group as a result of so thoroughly pre-rehearsing set programs. We're now looking past the traditional self-presenter and touring models, which are both costly and increasingly complicated, and believe this novel approach will continue to pay off, particularly once the 'economic tsunamis' recede."

Saturday's concert at EMPAC presents two works of startling originality written for The Array Ensemble by two of Canada's most celebrated composers, Claude Vivier and James Tenney, as well as a handful of compelling 'miniature' pieces written for Array by composers long associated with the group.

While Vivier amassed a modicum of respect and success during his short but prolific lifetime, since his violent murder at 35 on a Paris street one night in 1983 - depicted, as if by premonition in a final unfinished work - his music has become widely celebrated for its power, preternatural beauty and highly personalized language. The Array Ensemble performs a work that Claude Vivier wrote and completed for its group in 1982, 'Et Je Reverrai Cette Ville Etrange,' subsequently recorded and presented many times throughout its performing history. Vivier worked closely with The Array Ensemble in preparing its world premiere and was in attendance for the first performance. Inspiration for 'Ville Etrange' came from instruments which then Array percussionist David Kent had collected in Bali and the composer constructed the work around these.

Upon completion of the piece, Vivier informed Array "it may be that I have reached the purest type of melodic form with 'Et Je Reverrai Cette Ville Etrange.' As the title suggests, this piece is a return to a certain spot in my life, certain melodies," he said. "Melodies that are somehow part of my past."

While it might be supposed that the work referred to one of the exotic locales the composer frequented, in fact he wrote the work about the city of Toronto. Vivier hints at essences of the music of the East in his choice of melodic treatment, which as in Balinese music is repeated, creating the sense of a ritual search for purity - a key area of interest for Vivier. "Melancholia derives from my taste for past stories," he wrote about the work. "My own stories, few melodies embedded into silence, into the time continuum. This piece is an act of despair in so far as creation is always trying to link past and future, 'melancholia and hope,' to recreate the time continuum that human life has disrupted."

Paul Griffiths once aptly wrote of Vivier in The New York Times: "In his short life and his art, the French Canadian composer Claude Vivier was a man diving, often recklessly, into the ultimate... And from the edge of experience, he began to bring back, in the years leading up to his death... a new sound."

James Tenney wrote several new works for The Array Ensemble prior to his death in 2006 and was considered a friend and mentor by the ensemble's members, who have performed his intricate work often. Considered a music pioneer, Jim lived and worked in Toronto, Canada, for many years as a composer, teacher and mentor, holding weekly salons in his home, inciting lively debates about a spectrum of issues. It was not uncommon to see Jim at new music concerts then, looking formidable and sporting his trademark cowboy hat. The first to use popular music sources in electro-acoustic music, Jim Tenney was also the first to work by invitation at Bell Labs developing new music software.

Tenney wrote 'Spectrum 1' for The Array Ensemble, which it presents at EMPAC this Saturday. It was the first in a projected family of pieces for various instrumental ensembles, all of which used the same notation and playing procedures and same, or similar, sets of pitches. Array performed its world premiere in 1995, then later recorded the piece on its 'Array Live' CD, recently released on the Artifact label.

Best known for writing music that does not intend to express an inward emotional state, but rather to satisfy some scientific or other conjecture on the part of the composer, Tenney has said that "communication for me is something that I certainly do with the music -- afterwards, that is. I want other people to hear it. I enjoy having other people hear it again, and so forth, but I'm not communicating something to them when I write a piece of music. That's an irrelevant notion for me. So, I sometimes think that what I am doing is none of the things it used to be that music was doing, but rather, satisfying my curiosity, or trying to."

Derek Yaple-Schobert performs in Saskatchewan, Ontario & Michigan

The Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Councils (OSAC) & The Canada Council for the Arts (Music Touring Grant) present well-traveled, award winning emerging pianist Derek Yaple-Schobert in live performances in Shaunavon, Leader, Kindersley and Moose Jaw on November 5, 6, 7 and 8th respectively.

With a growing reputation for bringing classical music to wider audiences, Yaple-Schobert will guide newcomers as well as experienced concertgoers on a memorable musical journey nuanced with engaging and insightful commentary. The programme features a broad spectrum of the immortals: the emotional pathos of Beethoven, the unearthly beauty of Schubert and the dazzling virtuosity of Franz Liszt. Often infusing his recitals with a Scandinavian twist as well as Canadian content, Yaple-Schobert will also perform breathtaking musical landscapes of the Norwegian Edvard Grieg, a set of variations on a Swedish folk tune by Erland von Koch, in addition to 2 short innovative works by Canadian composers Boudreau and Gougeon. Several works on the programme appear on his debut CD, Nordic Passion on sale at each recital. On November 4th in Shaunavon, Dr. Yaple-Schobert will instruct and inspire local piano students in a masterclass. Following his Saskatchewan appearances, Yaple-Schobert performs and will give masterclasses for both the LUMINA Concert Series in Thunder Bay (Nov. 18), Ontario and at Northern Michigan University (Nov. 21 & 23), where local radio will record his recital for future broadcast as well as interview him.

Recital celebrates 50th anniversary of Lois Marshall in Russia

TORONTO - Lois Marshall was one of the best known Canadian sopranos of her generation. She has sung in the worldĺ─˘s finest performance halls under such conductors as Toscanini, Sargent, Beecham, MacMillan, Stokowski, and Barbirolli. In October 1958, Marshall became the first North American singer ever to tour the Soviet Union exclusively as a recitalist, and her route took her from Moscow to Riga, Leningrad, Kiev, and back to Moscow. On Friday, November 14, the University of Toronto is proud to present Russian Nights, a voice recital celebrating the 50th anniversary of that historic event. Featuring faculty soprano Lorna MacDonald and pianist Che Anne Loewen, the program is a compilation of Marshallĺ─˘s Russian tours between 1958 and 1977, including lieder by Schubert, Britten and Richard Strauss; arias by Handel and Puccini, as well as folksong arrangements.

The recital takes place at 7:30 pm in Walter Hall in the Edward Johnson Building at 80 Queenĺ─˘s Park. Tickets ($25 adults and $15 seniors/students) can be purchased at the box office in person or by calling 416-978-3744.

Professor of Voice and Voice Pedagogy at the University of Toronto, soprano Lorna MacDonald holds the Lois Marshall Chair in Voice Studies and is head of Voice Studies at the Faculty of Music. She enjoys a career of distinction as a lyric-coloratura soprano and voice teacher, and has sung across Canada and the US, in Wales, Taiwan, France, Ireland, the UK, Germany, and Bermuda. Her acclaimed performances have been broadcast on CBC, PBS and NPR. The Halifax Chronicle-Herald has praised her performances of Mozart and Buxtehude as having ĺ─˙freshness of toneĺ─Âclarity of style and dictionĺ─Âbeautifully expressive musicianshipĺ─Âserved by a perfection of technical mastery.ĺ─¨ As a teacher, Lorna initiated many successful and innovative additions to the voice studies curriculum at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Her record has been recognized with Ontarioĺ─˘s prestigious OCUFA Award for ĺ─˙teaching excellence and outstanding contributions to university teachingĺ─¨.

Che Anne Loewen, originally from Steinbach, Manitoba, is a collaborative pianist of breadth and authority. She has performed throughout Canada and in Europe with many singers and instrumentalists, including Jean Stilwell, Catherine Robbin, Gary Relyea, and Measha Brueggergosman. She has been heard many times over the CBC and has been praised in the press for ĺ─˙her brilliant supportĺ─¨ (The Globe and Mail), ĺ─˙truly exquisite articulationĺ─¨ (Fredericton Daily Gleaner) and ĺ─˙her subtlety and nuanceĺ─¨ (Halifax Chronicle-Herald).

Featuring music faculty members, the Faculty Artist Series has a long tradition of presenting some of Canadaĺ─˘s most celebrated artists and is considered one of the finest recital series in Toronto. For more information on this or other Faculty of Music concert series, please visit our website at www.music.utoronto.ca or contact the Box Office at 416-978-3744.

share the stage for a fabulous evening of music alongside Bill Eddins, Tommy Banks and the ESO!

Tuesday, November 11th- 7:30pm

Edmonton, AB ĺ─Â The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra(ESO) welcomes three Canadian jazz greats for a night of Jazz Generations. Denzal Sinclaire, and P.J. Perry are already familiar names to Edmonton jazz fans, and they're taking to the stage on November 11, 2008 to present a night of warm jazz by Charlie Parker, Duke Ellington, George Gershwin, and Doug Riley.

Joining these special guests is 14-year-old musical prodigy Nikki Yanofsky, a rising singing sensation. ĺ─˙There is a richness and maturity and a heart and an effortlessness that divas twice or three times her age would kill for,ĺ─¨ says the Montrłęal Gazette. And the Globe and Mail says ĺ─˙The Montrłęal teenager has taste beyond her years and vocal chops to spare.ĺ─¨ To hear more about Nikki visit this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-bumYe5mfA

Making her ESO debut, she joins ESO Music Director Bill Eddins in this one-night-only performance which also features Tommy Banks on piano.

Tickets for this performance range from $20-$65 (agency fees apply) Tickets are available through the Winspear Centre Box Office. This concert has amplified sound.

Why do so many Asians devote their lives to playing Western classical music?

"[A] comprehensive cultural, historical and ethnographic study of Asians and Asian-Americans who pursue Western classical music in the United Statesĺ─Â[a] probing authoritative survey." ĺ─ýPublishers Weekly

"[Yoshihara] offers stunning insights, the most powerful of which concerns the ways in which Asian musicians have reinvented the Western repertoire." ĺ─ýLeon Botstein, President of Bard College

Musicians of Asian descent enjoy unprecedented prominence in concert halls, conservatories and classical music performance competitions, In Musicians from a Different Shore: Asian Americans in Classical Music(Publication Date, November 10, 2008), Mari Yoshihara looks into the reasons for this phenomenon, starting with her own experience of learning to play piano in Japan at age 3. Yoshihara shows how a confluence of culture, politics and commerce after the war made classical music a staple in middle-class households, established Yamaha as the world's largest producer of pianos, and gave the Suzuki method of music training an international clientele.

Against this historical backdrop, she interviews Asian and Asian American musicians, such as Cho-Liang Lin, Margaret Leng Tan and Kent Nagano, who have taken various routes into classical music careers. They offer their views about the connections of race and culture and discuss whether the music is really as universal as many claim it to be. Their personal histories and Yoshihara's observations present a snapshot of today's dynamic and revived classical music scene.

Mari Yoshihara is Associate Professor of American Studies at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. She is the author of Embracing the East: White Women and American Orientalism.

Esprit Orchestra launches 2008-09 season with Inspired by Traditions

Inspired by Traditions

Esprit Orchestra launches its 2008-09 season

Toronto, ON (November 5, 2008)ĺ─ÂEsprit Orchestra opens its 2008-09 season on Sunday, November 23, 2008 with Inspired by Traditions, a concert of electrifying music exploring diverse styles from jazz to late-Romanticsm. Alex Pauk, Espritĺ─˘s founding music director will conduct the program which features pianist Andrew Burashko and violinist Marie Błęrard, Concertmaster of the Canadian Opera Company Orchestra.

John Adamsĺ─˘ Short Ride in a Fast Machine is a thrilling, joyfully exuberant piece in the established tradition of minimal music. One of Americaĺ─˘s most admired and performed living composers, Adams has built a huge audience worldwide through the immediacy and sincerity of his music. Short Ride in a Fast Machine, with its steady beat, and repeating and shifting rhythmic patterns, has become one of the most frequently requested and performed compositions in American concert-halls.

One of Canadaĺ─˘s most highly ranked classical composers, R. Murray Schafer needs no introduction. His work titled Dream Rainbow, Dream Thunder is a sumptuous fantasy for orchestra inspired by Schaferĺ─˘s visit to Neuschwanstein, King Ludwigĺ─˘s magnificent Bavarian castle built as an homage to Richard Wagner. Wagnerĺ─˘s influence is detectable in Schaferĺ─˘s work, as are the styles of other composers. Esprit Orchestraĺ─˘s recording of Dream Rainbow, Dream Thunder won a Juno Award in 1986.

Ukrainian composer Valentin Silvestrov is beginning to become better known in the West, whereas in the former Soviet Union he has long earned the respect of such contemporary heavyweights as Alfred Schnittke and Arvo Płžrt. His Dedication, a symphony for violin and orchestra, is a broadly sweeping, lyrical piece which explores the phenomenon of melody as a symbol of gratitude. In the composerĺ─˘s words, melody, in its widest sense, ĺ─˙has always been entrusted to us, simply as Godĺ─˘s gift to music.ĺ─¨ Joining Esprit in presenting this North American premiere of Silvestrovĺ─˘s masterpiece will be violin soloist Marie Błęrard.

American composer Aaron Copland helped define a twentieth century American sound by creating a musical style that combined the myths of the American West and the styles of Latin American music. His works have great impact and resonance in North America and he has exerted tremendous influence on a huge number of American composers including the likes of Leonard Bernstein. A distinct, Gershwin-like style comes through strongly in Coplandĺ─˘s Piano Concerto No. 1 which will be performed by the accomplished pianist Andrew Burashko.

Concert and Ticket Details

Inspired by Traditions takes place on Sunday, November 23, 2008 at 8 p.m. at the Jane Mallett Theatre in the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts (27 Front Street East). A pre-concert talk begins at 7:15 p.m. Tickets to Inspired by Traditions are $15 for students, $24 for seniors and $32 for adults. Group rates (8+ people) are $25. Subscriptions to Esprit Orchestraĺ─˘s 2008-09 season start at $45. For tickets or subscriptions contact the St. Lawrence Centre Box Office at 416-366-7723 or www.stlc.com .

About Esprit Orchestra

Esprit Orchestra is Canadaĺ─˘s only orchestra devoted exclusively to performing new orchestral music and developing a legacy of Canadian orchestral music. Founded by composer/conductor Alex Pauk in 1983, Esprit Orchestra is comprised of a core of 45 dedicated musicians with the special skills required to perform contemporary orchestral music. Esprit commissions and premieres new works each season and ensures continued public access to these works through encore performances, radio broadcasts, compact disc and film recordings, and national and international tours. For more information visit www.espritorchestra.com.

Minimalist Messiah: Classical Music Consort

The mESSIAH

By G. F. Handel - Performed on Period Instruments

The Chapel at KnoxCollege, University of Toronto

Friday, December 12 at 7:30PM

For Immediate Release ĺ─ý Toronto, November 5, 2008: Torontoĺ─˘s Classical Music Consort presents Handel's Messiah at The Chapel at Knox College (University of Toronto)on Friday, December 12 at 7:30PM. The sacred oratorio, a perennial audience favourite during the holiday season, is performed here with a minimalist, fresh musical approach: under the direction of artistic director Ashiq Aziz, the Classical Music Consort performs on period instruments, while the CMC choir, comprised of only 8 voices, highlights the textures of Handelĺ─˘s splendid choruses. This distinctive performance features soprano Charlotte Corwin, alto Susanne Hawkins, tenor Thomas Macleay and bass Giles Tomkins.

Composed over a period of just over three weeks in the summer of 1741 on a libretto provided by Charles Jennens, The Messiah received its first performance in Dublin on 13 April 1742. The proceeds from the concert were donated to local hospitals for the mentally ill. Although the work was conceived and first performed for secular theatre during Lent, it has become common practice since Handel's death to perform Messiah during Advent. The score itself has undergone numerous revisions, as Handel altered the music depending on the forces available for each performance. This performance by the CMC makes an attempt at recreating a version of the score as it was originally intended.

The Classical Music Consort is an enterprising young company, founded and lead by artistic director Ashiq Aziz (who recently returned to Toronto after studying music in England). Establishing the foundations of an accomplished repertoire while aiming to attract a new generation to the resonance and relevance of classical music, the CMC rose to public attention last summer as it presented Handelĺ─˘s opera, Acis and Galatea as part of the 2008 Toronto Fringe Festival, also garnering praises from the media: 'Ashiq Aziz gets gorgeous sounds from his original-instrument playing orchestra and fine crop of singers' (NOW Toronto); 'The lively work is beautifully played and sung.' (Eye Weekly); 'ĺ─Âthe whole is so sincerely presented that it is pretty much guaranteed to win your heart.' (Toronto Star).

Ensemble contemporain de Montrłęal+

Ensemble contemporain de Montrłęal+ performs Generation 2008 on November 10 at Dominion-ChalmersUnitedChurch

Ottawa (Canada) ĺ─ý The National Arts Centre (NAC) and the Ottawa Chamber Music Society present Generation 2008, a performance by Montrealĺ─˘s stellar Ensemble contemporain de Montrłęal+ celebrating some of Canadaĺ─˘s most talented and exciting young composers.

The performance takes place at 8 p.m. on Monday, November 10th , 2008, at Dominion-ChalmersUnitedChurch, 355 Cooper Street, Ottawa. Admission for this performance is on a ĺ─˙pay-what-you-canĺ─¨ basis.

This performance will showcase new works from composers Scott Good, Brian Harman and Fuhong Shi ĺ─ý all of whom have participated in the NAC Summer Music Institute Program ĺ─ý and by Michael Berger. The concert will also feature soloists Tim Brady on electric guitar and Scott Good on trombone. (See attached biographies).

A graduate of the University of Victoria (2005) and the University of Alberta (2007), Michael is presently pursuing doctoral studies at StanfordUniversity. In 2007 he was awarded a SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship for research in physical interaction design for electroacoustic performance practice. His music is often driven by extra-musical concepts, but always with careful consideration of sound as a physical medium and of energy in performance.

Scott Good (b. 1972, Ontario)

Scott completed his Doctor of Music degree at the University of Toronto in composition (2005) and is now appointed composer in residence at the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. Rooted in the classical tradition, Scottĺ─˘s music draws infl uence from a wide variety of sources such as rock, jazz, and baroque as well as more abstract and esoteric musical concepts, such as serialism, extended techniques, and free improvisation.

Brian Harman (b. 1981, Quebec)

Now completing his doctorate at McGill, Brian holds degrees from McGillUniversity and the University of Toronto. In 2007 he won a SOCAN prize for his piece sink. His music plays with the interaction between various musical layers, and is often inspired by non-classical music.

Fuhong Shi (b. 1976, Ontario)

Fuhong graduated from the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing and from the University of Victoria. She is now pursuing her doctoral studies in composition at the University of Toronto. She was awarded the 2007 Karen Kieser Prize in Canadian Music. In her music, she explores colouristic effects, lyricism, as well as percussive sonorities.

Guest soloists

Tim Brady, electric guitar

Tim Brady is a composer and guitarist who has created music in a wide range of genres. He has been commissioned and performed by numerous ensembles and orchestras in North America, Europe and Australia. Brady regularly tours internationally as an electric guitar soloist, performing his own music as well as new works, which he commissions from other composers in his effort to create a new voice for the electric guitar. Tim Brady was awarded the Prix OPUS for Č┤Composer of the YearČ¬ (2004), and the Jan V. Matejcek Award by SOCAN (2006).

Scott Good, trombone (See above)

Scott has served as a trombonist in many orchestras, including the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Orchestra, the National Ballet Orchestra, Esprit and Orchestra London, among others. Many of his works and performances have been heard on CBC radio.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

The VSO and the Coalition for Music Education announce 2008 Principals of Music Award recipient

The VSO and the Coalition for Music Education announce

2008 Principals of Music Award recipient

Vancouver BC ĺ─ý The Coalition for Music Education believes that a well-rounded education includes access to music from Kindergarten to Grade 12. For schools to offer music ĺ─ý through choirs, bands and strings programs ĺ─ý requires the support of school boards and administrators.

Not surprisingly, the attitudes of the school Principal can make all the difference. Without flexibility in time-tabling and a commitment to having a music specialist on staff, music classes will not thrive.

Since 2003, The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra has partnered with the Coalition for Music Education in BC to honour a school principal whose support and advocacy for music in his/her school help to create an environment in which music can flourish.

Mr. Vine has recently retired after many years of dedicated service. A testament to his commitment to music is that nearly half the student population of Salt Spring Middle School is in the music program. It is an honour to acknowledge Mr. Vineĺ─˘s commitment to music in our schools.

The award will be presented by Maestro Bramwell Tovey at the November 8th Musically Speaking concert at the Orpheum. The award winner receives a plaque honouring their achievement and the music program at the school receives $500 from Tom Lee Music and a Tempus Drum specially made for the occasion.

COC's Annual General Meeting Results

Canadian Opera Company HITS a high note with A SURPLUS for THE SIXTH consecutive year

Toronto, Ontario ĺ─ý Today at the Canadian Opera Company's Annual General Meeting David C. Ferguson, President of the COC, announced a surplus of $41,000 for the 2007/08 season, the company's sixth consecutive surplus.

"I am pleased to report that the Canadian Opera Company's 2007/08 season was one of remarkable artistic and financial success. We have posted a surplus for the sixth year in a row, annual private sector support has increased, box office revenues have hit a record high, and, for the second straight season, our productions have played to capacity houses, with almost 100% attendance at the

Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts," said David Ferguson at today's Annual General Meeting. "From the tragic loss of Richard Bradshaw in the summer of 2007 and the appointment of Alexander Neef as our new General Director in the summer of 2008, to the announcement of the completion of the Capital Campaign to build the Four Seasons Centre, it has been a momentous year for the Canadian Opera Company."

The box office revenue for the 2007/08 subscription season hit a record level of $12,300,000.

This represents a 16% increase in revenue over the previous year for comparable activity when revenue from the Ring Cycle is excluded. The 2007/08 season saw an increase in activity to 66 performances of seven mainstage productions at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts and four performances of the Ensemble Studio Production at the Imperial Oil Opera Theatre. The season opened in October 2007 with a revival of the COC's 1993 production of Mozart's comedy The Marriage of Figaro, and Verdi's bold Don Carlos. The winter run continued with two new productions, Puccini's passionate Tosca, and Janł░čšek's rarely-performed From the House of the Dead, a COC premiere. The 2007/08 season closed with Tchaikovsky's romantic Eugene Onegin, Rossini's classic comedy The Barber of Seville, and a revival of the COC's 2000 production of Debussy's sumptuous Pellłęas et Młęlisande. Overall, the 2007/08 subscription season was performed to 99% of capacity.

During the 2007/08 season, box office revenues represented 41% of total operating revenues, with fundraising and sponsorship accounting for 33%, government funding accounting for 23%, and the remaining 3% coming from other income sources such as space and production rentals. In 2007/08, annual private sector support of the Canadian Opera Company increased from 2006/07 levels by 26%. Individual giving campaigns have been extremely successful in the past year with 27% gains over last year with patrons giving more than $6.9 million. Major Gifts and Special Projects increased by 148%, The President's Council experienced a 17% increase in monetary support and The Golden Circle increased by 40%. More than 5,400 patrons and donors supported the Friends of the COC program, an increase of 11% over last season. The company received two $100,000 lead gifts for the Year End Matching Appeal, one from an anonymous donor and one from the Appel family, making it the largest match in the company's history, helping to raise an additional $263,000. Support from Foundations increased by 85% over the previous year.

Corporate sponsorship in 2007/08 continued to be successful, nearing the $2 million mark. The company maintained significant support from Jaguar Land Rover Canada, Sun Life Financial, RBC Financial Group, BMO Financial Group, TD Bank Financial Group, CIBC World Markets and CIBC Mellon, Andrew Peller Limited, Panasonic Canada Inc., Harry Winston, National Bank Financial Group and Scotiabank Group. New corporate sponsors include: Xstrata, the Title Sponsor of the Xstrata Ensemble Studio School Tour; Delvinia, the Digital Marketing Sponsor; CTVglobemedia, the COC's Official Media Sponsor; and Hilton Toronto as the Opening Night Sponsor.

In March 2008, the COC announced the completion of its Capital Campaign to build the

Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. Thanks to a $5 million personal gift from Toronto philanthropists Isadore and Rosalie Sharp, and other leadership gifts totalling an additional $5 million, the campaign, which began in the early summer of 2002, drew to a close ĺ─ý on budget at $186 million, and less than six years after it began.

In August 2007, the COC experienced the sudden and tragic loss of its General Director, Richard Bradshaw. An extensive search led by the COC's Search Committee and Genovese, Vanderhoof & Associates led to the appointment of Alexander Neef in June 2008. He began his tenure as General Director of the Canadian Opera Company on October 1, 2008.

In October 2007, the COC's successful Free Concert Series in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre celebrated its second year with 100 free events ranging from classical, jazz, world music, and contemporary dance. Last season's series also featured a mini-festival celebrating Canadian composer R. Murray Shafer's works with four special concerts, and a new urban series which featured a world-premiere, Hip-Hopera. The Free Concert Series attracted nearly 20,000 audience members of all backgrounds and ages who experienced the artistic excellence and cultural diversity of the city.

In October 2008, the COC opened the 2008/09 season at the Four Seasons Centre with Mozart's timeless masterpiece Don Giovanni and continued with Prokofiev's powerful drama, War and Peace. In January, the COC presents a new production of Beethoven's only opera Fidelio, and Dvoë˘ł░k's Rusalka. The spring run opens with Verdi's grand opera Simon Boccanegra, followed by Puccini's classic La Bohł«me, and Britten's fairytale A Midsummer Night's Dream. The season concludes in June with the Ensemble Studio production of Mozart's CosłĘ fan tutte.

The Klezmatics en concert

KlezKanada is proud to present The Klezmatics in concert on Saturday, November 29th at 8:30 pm at Oscar Peterson Concert Hall, 7141 Sherbrooke St. West in Montreal.

New York-based The Klezmatics are world-renowned klezmer superstars who have revitalized the genre for the new century. Their music is steeped in Eastern European Jewish tradition and spirituality while incorporating contemporary themes and eclectic musical influences such as gospel, punk, Arab, African and Balkan rhythms. They have collaborated with numerous luminaries including folk hero Arlo Guthrie, classical legend Itzhak Perlman, Israeli pop icons Chava Alberstein and Ehud Bonai, beat poet Allan Ginsberg and kosher gospel singer Joshua Nelson.

They have garnered numerous accolades during their 20-year career, including the 2006 Grammy Award for best Contemporary World Music Album ("Wonder Wheel: lyrics by Woody Guthrie") the New York Jewish Music Award (Best Klezmer Band 2006) and have topped the Billboard world music charts on numerous occasions.

KlezKanada is Canada's only annual summer festival of Yiddish/Jewish Culture and the Arts. It sponsors a Youth Scholarship Program, which supports 100 awardees from around the world and provides them with an opportunity to study and perfect their respective talents at KlezKanada, located in Lantier, Quebec. Proceeds from this concert will support this program.

General admission tickets are available for $36.00 ea. at the Oscar Peterson Box Office at 7141 Sherbrooke St. West (514.848.4848) or throughAdmission Network (www.admission.com or by phone at 514.790.1245). Limited number of student tickets at $18.00 ea. available only at Oscar Peterson Hall Box Office.

Annoncing winner of 2008 WRITE-ON-Q Playwrighting contest

Write-on-Q Contest and The Pipeline Reading Series Collide in an Explosion of Qułębec-GrownCreativity

Montrłęal, November 2008 ĺ─ý The Pipeline, Infinithłęłótre's series of free public readings, returns with one jam-packed weekend of dramaturgy November 28th through 30th, at the Bain St-Michel (5300, St-Dominique), featuring three new Qułębec plays. Added to the mix this year is the first winner of the annual Write-on-Q playwriting contest.

In its ongoing mandate to discover new Qułębec works to bring to the stage, Infinithłęłótre initiated an annual writing contest this past spring, garnering scripts from all corners of the province.A jury of Emma Tibaldo (Artistic Director of Playwrights' Workshop Montreal) Carolyn Guillet (Associate Artist of Infinithłęłótre) and Kent Stetson (Governor General award-winning playwright) chose the winning play from a short list of seven plays, garnered from close to fifty submissions. Although the initial purpose was to single out one exceptional play as the winner, the calibre of writing was so impressive Infinithłęłótre decided to award two runner ups as well. Ms Pam Dunn, a steadfast supporter of Infinithłęłótre as well as several other worthy organizations, recently passed away, and in honour of her boundless enthusiasm for the arts, the inaugural Write-On-Q contest award will be given in her name.

The winner of the 2008 Pamela Dunn Write-On-Q playwrighting contest is screenwriter and actor Arthur Holden for his play (his first stage script), Father Land.Besides receiving a public reading of his script in The Pipeline series, he will receive a one thousand dollar honorarium.The other two scripts in this year's reading series are Daily Miracle by Gazette feature writer and copy editor David Sherman and Rabbit Rabbit by Amy Lee Lavoie a National Theatre School student currently in the playwrighting stream.Please see below for details about each play and its author.

Talkback discussions take place following each reading, allowing the audience to address questions or issues that the text generates in an open forum with the playwrights and actors. THE PIPELINE gives the public a unique opportunity to voice their opinion on Infinithłęłótre's future programming and directly influence Montrłęal's cultural landscape.

This contest is a huge opportunity for aspiring Qułębec playwrights as well as established writers to receive a kick-start for new work.Just as the 2007 production of The Elephant Song by Nicholas Billon and last year's production of Jason Maghanoy's GAS were first given public readings in The Pipeline, so some of this year's works may be given full productions in future Infinithłęłótre seasons and elsewhere.Scripts can be submitted to the Infinithłęłótre offices between April and August 2009 at 5413, boul. St-Laurent, Suite 302, Montreal, (Qułębec) H2T 1S5.For more information log on to www.infinihteatre.com or call (514) 987 ĺ─ý 1774.

Friday November 28th ĺ─ý 7 PM

DAILY MIRACLE

by David Sherman

SYNOPSIS: Marty's back to work after suffering a nervous breakdown; Elizabeth's daughter is sick at home with a babysitter; Carrie uses all her charms to impress as she dreams of a job in television while Benjamin is just trying to get the paper out, all overseen by the ghosts of an industry that used to be. It's another night on the news desk, where a few battle-scarred, overworked copy editors wrestle with fractured syntax and crushed ideals to get the next edition out in the shadow of a marathon corporate management meeting. Tempers frayed from layoffs, cutbacks and corroded ambitions; it's a miracle they can get the paper out at all. A miracle that happens every day.

BIO: David Sherman is a journalist, screenwriter and playwright and former playwright in residence at the Centaur Theatre. He has worked at The Montreal Star and The Gazette as a copy boy, music critic, feature writer, reporter and lastly, as a copy editor. He began writing the Daily Miracle a few years ago while he was working as an editor on the news desk at The Gazette. The play The Daily Miracle is a work of fiction, as are the characters, but the true strains and stress of working the desk in today's deteriorating newspaper industry are stranger than fiction.

Saturday November 29th ĺ─ý 7 PM

FATHER LAND

(Pam Dunn Write-On-Q winner)

by Arthur Holden

SYNOPSIS:Sunday morning in Westmount.Fifteen-year-old Eric Brook is writing a history essay about Uday and Qusay, the sons of Saddam Hussein.His father Joe, a successful accountant, is about to take Eric's reformed drug-addict uncle Victor to see their elderly father at the seniors' residence.It's a quiet, uneventful day... which turns suddenly menacing when Victor reveals that he owes money to a local mobster ĺ─ý money he doesn't have ĺ─ý and the mobster is on his way over to collect.The irresistible force of Victor's desperation confronts the immoveable object of Joe's outrage as young Eric, excluded from the conflict by his father, finds himself drawn to the bright flame of his uncle's recklessness.In the boy's imagination his uncle and father become Uday and Qusay Hussein in the fateful aftermath of the American invasion: two men trapped in a sumptuous house as a mortal enemy approaches.Alternating between the Brook home and the Iraqi villa in which the Hussein brothers have taken refuge, Father Land advances toward twin resolutions: one decreed by history, both by loyalty shot through with spite.It is a story of the debt owed by sons to fathers, by fathers to sons, by blood to blood.

BIO:Born in Montreal, Arthur Holden has made his living as an actor and screenwriter in this city for two decades.Onscreen, he has appeared in various film and TV productions including The Aviator, Renłę Lłęvesque, and the upcoming Qułębec 1759.Screenwriting credits include the English remake of the hit Quebec series Rumeurs and a made-for-TV movie, Out of Control, due for release in early 2009.Father Land is his first stage play.

Sunday November 30th ĺ─ý 2 PM

RABBIT RABBIT

by Amy Lee Lavoie

SYNOPSIS:Larry, a paedophilic birthday clown, is on a "date" with Britney, a sixteen-year-old prostitute working for a fetish escort service.If Britney gets another shitty score from a client - she's had a string of bad-luck fours lately - her pimp will put her out on the street.Larry asked for his usual girl, twelve-year-old Sabrina, who wasn't available.He really wanted his regular fix, as he has his sights set on a young girl who he will be seeing next week at a birthday party, his next clown job. He knows what he will do if he doesn't get some relief.It is D-Day in the hotel room. Through embarrassing, traumatic attempts at having sex, and in spite of Britney's nerves and Larry's broken routine, the two characters form a unique bond. The hotel room becomes a confessional for dark secrets and future dreams.

BIO:Amy Lee Lavoie is a graduate of the Bishop's University Drama Program and is currently in her second year of the Playwriting Program at the National Theatre School of Canada. Rabbit Rabbit was conceived in her first year at NTS with Brian Drader as dramaturge.

Toys magically coming to life, a young girl, a mysterious prince, elegant dancing snowflakes and Christmas wishes fulfilled: it's no wonder THE NUTCRACKER is the most beloved ballet in the world and the most delightful of holiday traditions! Canadian Ballet Theatre (CBT) is thrilled to present an elegant, traditional Russian mounting of this classic piece with international ballet superstars performing alongside shining young stars-in-the-making.

The role of Clara will be alternated between Victoria Harding and Alys Shee, to be partnered with Eugene Dokoukine as the valiant Nutcracker Prince. All of these superstars in the making are senior students with the Academy of Ballet and Jazz, the school of Canadian Ballet Theatre.

Alina Somova is a St. Petersberg native who graduated from the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet in 2003 and joined the Mariinsky theatre the same year. A glittering ballerina, Ms. Somova is famous for her impeccable fouette turns and grands jetes.

A past winner of the esteemed Helsinki International Ballet Competition, Anton Korsakov is widely renowned for his dramatic intensity, technical prowess and spectacular elevation.

A rapidly rising star, Zhong-Jing Fang has been with American Ballet Theatre since 2002. Trained at the Shanghai Ballet School, where she was accepted at the age of 10, Ms. Fang won the very first competition she entered, the Prix de Lausanne 2000.

Canadian Ballet Theatre students have the unique opportunity to work with the award-winning and world-famous Artistic Director Nadia Veselova Tencer. With her husband and producing partner, Solomon Tencer, Ms. Veselova co-founded the Canadian Ballet Theatre, and it's school, the Academy of Ballet and Jazz, both committed to the traditions of Russian classical ballet. A master teacher, Nadia is a graduate of the world-renowned Vaganova Choreographic Institute, the school of the Kirov Ballet, class of Alla Osipenko.

The Tencers produce the worldwide dance phenomenon, Stars of the 21st Century. For more than ten years these international ballet galas, a tribute to excellence in the art of classical dance, have been the hit of the season around the world. Recently, Nadia judged and choreographed at the Youth America Grand Prix dance competition finals in New York and was a judge at the Prix Benois De La Danse, at the Bolshoi Theatre in Russia. This faithful and classic rendering of THE NUTCRACKER is staged by Nadia Veselova Tencer.

THE NUTCRACKER begins on Christmas Eve with the young Clara and her beautiful nutcracker. As the clock strikes midnight, Clara falls asleep under the Christmas tree and dreams the most marvelous dream of a winter wonderland with dancing snowflakes, a defeated Mouse King, and a magical sleigh ride with her Prince.

Canadian Ballet Theatre presents

THE NUTCRACKER

Music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Choreography by Vasily Vainonen

Set and Costumes from the Bolshoi Ballet

Staged by Nadia Veselova Tencer

Winter Garden Theatre, 189 Yonge Street (north of Queen Street)

Saturday, December 20, 2008 at 2:30pm and 7pm

Sunday, December 21, 2008 at 1:30pm

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

Tickets are $60 and $70 and can be purchased in person at the box office,

by calling Ticketmaster 416.872.5555 or online at www.ticketmaster.ca

For more information about Canadian Ballet Theatre please visit www.starsofthe21stcentury.com

Monday, November 3, 2008

Nothin' But The Blues with Byron Stripling

Jazz and Blues Master Byron Stripling to Perform with the

Vancouver Symphony Orchestra

Vancouver BC ĺ─ý The Orpheum stage comes alive with the Blues on November 21st & 22ndat 8pm when the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra presents trumpet virtuoso/singer and Vancouver favourite, Byron Stripling, in Nothinĺ─˘ But The Blues. With triumphant technique, charismatic charm, and a larger-than-life stage persona, Stripling has won over audiences world-wide. This is one concert sure to please both Jazz/Blues enthusiasts and casual listeners. This concert takes place as part of the London Drugs VSO Pops series.

ĺ─˙Byron Stripling wailed New Orleans-style but also negotiated bebop runs like Kenny Dorham and had theĺ─Âaudience shouting for joy with his earthy blues singing.ĺ─¨

-Denver Post

ĺ─˙ĺ─Âa towering and powerful trumpet player, who has been compared to a later Louis Armstrong.ĺ─¨

-Los Angeles Times

Byron Stripling has quickly become a favourite of Vancouver audiences, holding them in the palm of his hand with his enthusiasm, sense of tone and timing, and an authenticity rarely found in any but the true Jazz/Blues masters. From his early Count Basie and Dizzy Gillespie Orchestra days to present day, Byron Striplingĺ─˘s musicianship and timeless appeal keep audiences coming back for more. Check out Mr. Stripling at www.byronstripling.com.

Stripling is joined by dazzling trombonist and longtime collaborator, Wycliffe Gordon, one of the preeminent jazz musicians of our time. Vocalist Dee Daniels is also featured in this concert along with organist Bobby Floyd and drummer Ted Moore.

Jeff Tyzik, the VSOĺ─˘s Principal Pops Conductor, wields his baton for this celebration of the Blues. Tyzik has earned a reputation as one of Americaĺ─˘s foremost pops conductors and is in high demand as a guest conductor across North America. Like Byron Stripling and Wycliffe Gordon, Jeff Tyzik is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music in New York. After graduating, he spent the next few years working with jazz legend Chuck Mangione and experienced his big break ĺ─ý the chance to co-compose a trumpet concerto with Allen Vizzutti to be recorded by pops legend Doc Severinsen. A few years later he was hired as Principal Pops Conductor of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra ĺ─ý a position he has held for 12 years now. A skillful musician and conductor, Tyzik is known for his commitment to music of all genres and his engaging rapport with diverse audiences.

Jeff Tyzik has earned a reputation as one of America's most innovative pops conductors. Described by the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle as ĺ─˙among the best pops conductors in America,ĺ─¨ Tyzik is recognized for his brilliant arrangements, original programming, and engaging rapport with audiences of all ages. Principal Pops Conductor of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra for over a decade, he also serves as Principal Pops Conductor of the Vancouver and Oregon Symphony Orchestras.

In twelve years with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO), Tyzik has developed an incredible relationship with devoted Rochester audiences, who appreciate his creative pops programming. Over the course of his tenure, he has written over 160 works for the orchestra. A consummate musician, Tyzik is so appreciated in Rochester that the RPO has taken the unusual step of inviting their principal pops conductor to appear as a guest artist in the orchestraĺ─˘s subscription series calendar on a regular basis, where he has performed works by some of the greatest American composers to critical acclaim, and where he led the premiere of his own Trombone Concerto, which was funded by a grant from the National Endowment of the Arts. Recently, Tyzik recorded a disc of works by Gershwin with pianist Jon Nakamatsu and the RPO on the Harmonia Mundi label, to be released in spring 2007.

ĺ─˙His concert is the kind of thing thatĺ─˘s likely to give classical music a good name, perhaps even make it seem, dare I say, relevant,ĺ─¨ writes John Pitcher of the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle (February 3, 2006). ĺ─˙Whatĺ─˘s great about Tyzik is his way of making any concert (classical or pops) seem contemporary and approachable without sugarcoating anything, without dumbing down the musical experience.ĺ─¨

Highly sought after as a guest conductor, Tyzik has appeared with orchestras including the Cincinnati Pops, the New York Pops, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl. In addition to his commitments in Rochester, Vancouver, and Winnipeg, during the 2006/07 season, he performs with orchestras across North America including Dallas, Detroit, Elgin, Hartford, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon and Toronto, as well as the Naples Philharmonic and the National Arts Centre Orchestra (Ottawa).

A native of Hyde Park, New York, Tyzik began his life in music at nine years old, when he first picked up a cornet. He studied both classical and jazz throughout high school, and went on to earn both his bachelorĺ─˘s and masterĺ─˘s degrees from the Eastman School of Music, where he studied composition/arranging with Radio City Music Hallĺ─˘s Ray Wright and jazz studies with the great band leader Chuck Mangione, both of whom profoundly impacted him as a musician.

Tyzik spent the next few years working with Mangione, soaking in every part of the music business. He became a skilled record producer, while continuing to be active as a performer and arranger. These experiences led Tyzik to one of the great early opportunities of his careerĺ─ţthe chance to co-compose a trumpet concerto with friend and virtuoso trumpeter Allen Vizzutti to be recorded by pops legend Doc Severinsen.

After that first recording project, Tyzik worked closely with Severinsen on many projects including orchestrating many of the great band leaderĺ─˘s symphony orchestra programs, and producing a GRAMMY Award-winning album, The Tonight Show Band with Doc Severinsen, Vol. 1. To this day, he credits Severinsen as his greatest musical and professional inspiration.

As an accomplished composer and arranger, Tyzik has had his compositions recorded by ensembles including the London Symphony Orchestra, the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Summit Brass, and his arrangements have been recorded by groups including Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, the RPO, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, and Doc Severinsen with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London. He has also produced and composed theme music for many of the major television networks, including ABC, NBC, HBO, and Cinemax, and released six of his own albums on Capitol, Polygram and Amherst Records.

Committed to performing music of all genres, Tyzik has collaborated with such diverse artists as Tony Bennett, Art Garfunkel, Dawn Upshaw, Marilyn Horne, Arturo Sandoval, The Chieftains, Mark O'Connor, Doc Severinsen, John Pizzarelli, Billy Taylor, and Lou Rawls, and has created original programs that include the greatest music from jazz and classical to Motown and swing.

Actively sharing his passion for music with others, Tyzik has been recognized for his community service and educational work by Rotary International, the Monroe County Music Educators, and the Rochester Philharmonic League. He is also the recipient of the Arts & Cultural Council of Greater Rochester's 2002 Performing Artist award.

Tyzik currently serves on the Board of Managers of the Eastman School of Music, and as a board member of the Hochstein School of Music and Dance. He lives in Rochester, New York, with his wife Jill.

Byron Stripling

With a contagious smile and captivating charm, trumpet virtuoso, BYRON STRIPLING, has ignited audiences internationally. As soloist with the Boston Pops Orchestra, Stripling has performed frequently under the baton of Keith Lockhart, as well as being featured soloist on the PBS television special, "Evening at Pops," with conductors John Williams and Mr. Lockhart. Currently, Stripling serves as artistic director and conductor of the highly acclaimed Columbus Jazz Orchestra.

Since his Carnegie Hall debut with Skitch Henderson and the New York Pops, STRIPLING has become a pops orchestra favorite throughout the country, soloing with Boston Pops, National Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, Cincinnati Pops, Seattle Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony, Vancouver Symphony, Utah Symphony, and The American Jazz Philharmonic, to name a few. He has been a featured soloist at the Hollywood Bowl and performs at jazz festivals throughout the world.

An accomplished actor and singer, STRIPLING was chosen, following a world wide search, to star in the lead role of the Broadway bound musical, "Satchmo." Many will remember his featured cameo performance in the television movie, "The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles," and his critically acclaimed virtuoso trumpet and riotous comedic performance in the 42nd Street production of "From Second Avenue to Broadway."

Television viewers have enjoyed his work as soloist on the worldwide telecast of The Grammy Awards. Millions have heard his trumpet and voice on television commercials, TV theme songs including "20/20," CNN, and soundtracks of favorite movies.

STRIPLING earned his stripes as lead trumpeter and soloist with the Count Basie Orchestra under the direction of Thad Jones and Frank Foster. He has also played and recorded extensively with the bands of Dizzy Gillespie, Woody Herman, Dave Brubeck, Lionel Hampton, Clark Terry, Louis Bellson, and Buck Clayton in addition to The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, The Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, and The GRP All Star Big Band.

STRIPLING enjoys conducting Seminars and Master Classes at colleges, universities, conservatories, and high schools. His informative talks, combined with his incomparable wit and charm, make him a favorite guest speaker to groups of all ages.

STRIPLING was educated at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York and the Interlochen Arts Academy in Interlochen, Michigan. One of his greatest joys is to return, periodically, to Eastman and Interlochen as a special guest lecturer.

A resident of Ohio, STRIPLING lives in the country with his wife, former dancer, writer and poet, Alexis and their beautiful daughters.

Wycliffe Gordon

Wycliffe Gordon enjoys an extraordinary career as a performer, conductor, composer, arranger, and educator, receiving high praise from audiences and critics alike. Gordon tours the world performing hard-swinging, straight-ahead jazz for audiences ranging from heads of state to elementary school students. His trombone playing, hailed as "mixing powerful, intricate runs with sweet notes extended over clean melodies," has been universally hailed by jazz critics. Gordon received the Jazz Journalists Association 2002 and 2001 Award for Trombonist of the Year, the Jazz Journalists Association 2000 Criticsĺ─˘ Choice Award for Best Trombone and has been nominated for the Jazzpar Award.

In addition to a thriving solo career, he tours regularly leading the Wycliffe Gordon Quartet, headlining at legendary jazz venues throughout the world. Gordon is a former veteran member of the Wynton Marsalis Septet, The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, and The Gully Low Jazz Band, and has been a featured guest artist on Billy Taylor's "Jazz at The Kennedy Center" Series. Gordonĺ─˘s extensive performance experience includes work with many of the most renowned jazz performers of the past and present.

Gordonĺ─˘s musical prowess has been captured on numerous recordings, including nine solo CDs and three co-leader CDs. His latest solo effort, ĺ─˙Cone's Coup,ĺ─¨ is scheduled for release in May 2006. Gordon is featured on numerous recordings with The Wynton Marsalis Septet, The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, and numerous others as evidenced in his extensive discography. Wycliffe Gordon is also a gifted composer and arranger. He was commissioned to compose a vibrant new score for the 1925 classic silent film "Body and Soul" (notable as the screen debut of Paul Robeson), which was premiered at the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestraĺ─˘s 2000-01 season opening night performance at Avery Fisher Hall. Gordon's "I Saw The Light," a musical tribute to Muhammad Ali, was commissioned and premiered by The Brass Band of Battle Creek in March 2004. Both works are scheduled for release on DVD in summer of 2006.

Gordonĺ─˘s compositions have been performed by The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, The Wynton Marsalis Septet, The Wycliffe Gordon Quartet, The Brass Band of Battle Creek and numerous other ensembles, and performed in programs throughout the U.S. and abroad including concert halls in New York, Los Angeles, Aspen, Georgia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Germany, London, Finland and Switzerland. His compositions are also featured as a part of the PBS series "Marsalis on Music." Recent concert seasons have included premieres of compositions by Mr. Gordon for a variety of ensembles both in the Unites States and internationally. The first in a series of print editions of his big band, small ensemble and choir compositions will be available in fall of 2006.

Gordonĺ─˘s television appearances have included the Grammy Awards, the PBS special documentary "Swinginĺ─˘ with the Duke," and two Live from Lincoln Center broadcasts with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra ĺ─ý "Uptown Blues, Ellington at 100" (a collaboration with the New York Philharmonic) and "Big Train." Gordon also appeared in Ken Burnsĺ─˘ documentary "Jazz." Other television appearances include "A Carnegie Hall Christmas Concert" and "Live from Lincoln Center: The Juilliard School at 100 Years." Gordon is featured in BET's 13-part series "Journey with Jazz at Lincoln Center" and was guest artist and commentator in NPR affiliate WVIA's special program on Tommy Dorsey (along with the late Skitch Henderson, just days before Henderson's death). Gordon also appeared with the Wynton Marsalis Septet in the feature film "Tune In Tomorrow" starring Peter Falk, Keanu Reeves and Barbara Hershey.

Gordon is rapidly becoming one of Americaĺ─˘s most persuasive and committed music educators. He currently serves on the faculty of the Jazz Studies Program at The Juilliard School, a position he has held since the founding of the program. His work with young musicians and audiences from elementary schools to universities all over the world is extensive, and includes master classes, clinics, workshops, childrenĺ─˘s concerts and lectures ĺ─ţ powerful evidence of his unique ability to relate musically to people of all ages. Gordon is currently working on a collection of trombone quartets, trios and duos to be entitled "Trombone Majesty," with expected publication in late 2006. In addition, his first method book "Wycliffe Gordon's Suggested Studies for Trombone," a compilation of the materials, exercises and approaches he uses in his teaching and in his own practice regimen, will be released in January 2007. Gordon teamed with trombonist Joseph Alessi of the New York Philharmonic and students in both of their studios at Juilliard in creating and presenting the master class "Two Sides of the Slide" for Jazz at Lincoln Center. The master class is available in its entirety as part of a streaming video series offered by the Education Department of Jazz at Lincoln Center.

Gordon is the youngest member of the U.S. Statesmen of Jazz, and in many tour performances has served and continues to serve as a musical ambassador for the U.S.State Department.

Born in Waynesboro, Georgia, Gordon was first introduced to music by his late father, Lucius Gordon, a classical pianist and teacher. His interest in the trombone was sparked at age twelve by his elder brother who played the instrument in his junior high school band. Egged on by sibling rivalry, Gordonĺ─˘s relentless pleading of his parents led to his first trombone. A year later, an aunt bequeathed Gordon her jazz record collection, and so began his passion for jazz music.

Mr. Gordon endorses Edwards trombones and Monette mouthpieces.

Dee Daniels

Dee Daniels offers the jazz aficionado an ultimate treat - jazz served up with full-bodied silky tones that soar to the height and captures the depth of her four-octave range. Her warm presence and performance ability is evident, whether fronting combos in intimate Jazz clubs, big bands, or symphony orchestras in concert halls.

Daniels' style was born in her stepfather's church choir in Oakland, California, honed through the R&B era and brought to full fruition during a five-year stay in Europe from 1982 to 1987. During those years, she had many wonderful opportunities to perform with such 'Legends of Jazz' as Toots Theilemans, Johnny Griffin, Ed Thigpen, and Monty Alexander to name but a few.

Two other personal highlights while in Europe include having had the opportunity of singing the Blues with the late, divine Sarah Vaughan in The Netherlands, and singing Gospel with the late great Joe Williams in Germany.